Gillingham’s newcomers were a joy on the eye for boss Steve Lovell at Accrington.

Former Charlton youngster Brandon Hanlan scored Gills’ first goal of the new campaign and another new recruit, Regan Charles-Cook, also impressed as the Gills won their League 1 opener 2-0.

Lovell said: “Anyone you sign can be a gamble but when you know the character of the boys you’re signing and you know they have potential, they just need to be given a chance.

“I am not getting carried away, this is the first game, but that is something we can work on now and they will only get better and better.”

Hanlan was teed up for the first goal by Charles-Cook, another player released this summer by League 1 rivals Charlton.

“It was great and I was so pleased,” Lovell said.

“They were magnificent and they bring us something different, they are so positive the pair of them.

“Regan, first half, was outstanding, he was unplayable and the runs he makes in beyond and the runs he makes on the ball, he is always in the right areas.

"We knew we could get in behind and he had a field day in the first half, he looks a great prospect. Him and Hanlan played very well, as did Josh Parker, who could have had a couple more goals.

“I am really pleased and the same with Dean Parrett (another summer signing), he calmed things down in midfield and he, Mark Byrne and Billy Bingham had a great game, the three of them. I thought they all played well.

"It was a great team performance, you couldn’t really fault anyone.”

Read the full story in Monday's Medway Messenger