A young Gillingham side were held to a 1-1 draw by Southern Counties East Premier Division Bearsted on Tuesday night.

Ronald Sithole - younger brother of recently-departed striker Gerald Sithole - scored Gillingham’s equaliser as the club gave some of their best young players a final pre-season run-out before the real action begins.

Gillingham youth boss Mark Moss was in charge from the bench.

Bailey Akehurst was the only professional involved but 17-year-old striker Joe Gbode also featured. The frontman came off the bench twice in the previous league campaign and has been a regular in the first-team over pre-season.

Matt MacArthur, who has impressed over the summer, was also in action. Youth keeper Taite Holtam played in goal.

It was Bearsted who made the better start, taking an eighth-minute lead with a finish from the edge of the box.

Gbode and Sithole went close either side of the break and the equaliser came 10 minutes after the restart, Sithole’s effort hitting both posts before crossing the line.