Gillingham made a solid start to their pre-season campaign by putting four past Dover on Saturday.

Goals from Tom Nichols and Oli Hawkins put Gillingham infront at the break against their National South opponents. Conor Masterson added a third in the second half, Lewis Walker made it four.

The hosts announced pre-match that they would not be publishing an official teamsheet or naming their side for the game due to the number of trialists in their line-up.

The home side were without last season’s player-of-the-year Myles Judd after Hemel Hempstead revealed him as their new signing – weeks after he was supposed to have agreed a new deal with Dover.

The Gills named two different elevens for the friendly, one for each half, with a handful of youngsters included as substitutes for the early kick off at Crabble.

Shaun Williams captained Gills’ first half team which included new signing Jonny Williams and Neil Harris’ men went ahead early on.

Another of their newcomers, Max Clark, played a ball down the left side into the feet of Nichols, who did well to stay onside before lifting the ball over the advancing keeper for a fifth-minute lead.

Nichols and Clark were both lively down the Gills left and they combined to create another opening soon after, with energetic full-back Clark lifting a shot just over the bar.

Cheye Alexander put a free-kick wide for the Gills while goalkeeper Jake Turner made a couple of blocks in goal for the visitors. Clark and Max Ehmer both made clearances to avert any danger.

The Gills doubled their advantage in the 36th minute when Hawkins got on the end of a Nichols ball into the box, getting a touch from close-range. The man with the assist had once again broke free to get on the end of a ball forward and create the chance.

It was all-change for the second 45 minutes. Dover’s line-up after the break included former Gills youth player Julian Kuhr. There was no involvement on the pitch for Whites’ new assistant Ricky Holmes.

Masterson took the captain’s armband for the second half and the centre-back got Gillingham’s third goal, meeting Will Wright’s 56th minute corner at the near post, guiding it home after his team-mate spotted his run into space.

The Gills went 4-0 up in the 64th minute when a deep cross from Tim Dieng was met by Walker, beating the keeper to the ball and finding the net.

Dover offered little going forward in the second half but Glenn Morris was forced into a save from Kuhr, saving low down to his left.

Second half substitute Matty Macarthur drew a great save from the Dover, goalkeeper, who turned his dipping effort over the bar. Dieng almost got on the end of the resulting corner which had been helped on by Walker.

Gillingham (first half): Turner, Alexander, Clark, Ehmer, Giles, S S Williams, Lapslie, Clarke, J Williams, Nichols, Hawkins.

Gillingham (second half): Morris, Orji, McKenzie, Wright, Masterson, Dieng, Coleman, Jefferies, Chambers (Macarthur 76mins), Gbode, Walker.

Subs not used: Holtam, Gale, Sithole