New-look Dover kicked off their pre-season campaign with a win against Gillingham.

The Gills suffered an early injury blow to goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer and conceded goals either side of the break as Jordan Higgs and Arjanit Krasniqi struck for the hosts.

Gillingham had several more trialists named in their squad, including former Wimbledon right-back Cheye Alexander, who was released this summer. The 27-year-old had previously been with Barnet and Aldershot.

Jacob Mensah also started for the Gills following his exit from Morecambe. The London-born defender started his career with Ramsgate before moving to Crystal Palace.

Guyana international defender Reiss Greenidge, 26, was also involved after is release from Bolton Wanderers.

Jordan Green, Lewis Walker and Henry Wise remained from the previous weekend’s game at Folkestone.

Newly signed defender Elkan Baggott started for the League 2 side while there was also a first pre-season run-out for goalkeeper Jake Turner and defender Will Wright.

Both goalkeeper were lining up against their former clubs, with Stuart Nelson, now 40, facing the side he won promotion with back in 2013.

Gillingham goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer spent a time on loan at Crabble in 2020.

Nelson was one of 10 new signings made this summer by home boss Andy Hessenthaler and Saturday’s match was the first for the Whites this summer as they prepare for life in National League South. Newcomers Tyrone Sterling, Alfie Paxman, Jordan Higgs, Alfie Pavey and Luke Wanadio started for the home side.

Gills’ newest signing Baggott showed some early glimpse of his passing range but was caught out for the Dover opener late in the half.

Left-back David Tutonda was encouraged to attack down the wing for the Gills, bettering the Dover right-back Harrison Byford on a few occasions, while playing it out from the back was the prefered method for the visitors rather than hitting it long, the tactic of choice in recent years.

It was Dover who had the best of the early chances, however, Wanadio working an opening against Baggott and firing in a low shot that Ashley Maynard-Brewer had to stretch to reach, injurying what looked like his shoulder in the process. It was a dislocated shoulder that ended his loan spell at Ross County early last season.

Either side of that drama, the Gills twice went close, Stuart O’Keefe and Jordan Green both putting efforts just the wrong side of the upright. O’Keefe also hit a low shot that Nelson comfortably saved.

Jordan Higgs beat the Gills defence to create the opening goal, winning possession off Baggott and finding himself one on one with replacement keeper Jake Turner. His first shot was saved but when the ball popped up he calmly nodded home into the net.

Former Gillingham captain Lee Martin was among the substitutes for Dover at the interval, skippering the hosts during the second 45 minutes. The Gills gave started the second half with just a couple of changes.

Reece Grant had an early shot saved for the hosts after a good move forward and within moments they had a second goal of the match, coming from a free-kick conceded by Gills’ half-time sub Greenidge, the big centre-back committing a foul on the edge of the box. A superb strike from Krasniqi saw the ball hit the top corner, out of Turner’s reach.

Good work inside the box from trialist right-back Alexander looked to have created a goal for Gills but his ball across the face of goal wasn’t capitalised on.

The hour mark was the signal for mass changes in the Gillingham ranks, with Alex McDonald among seven coming on, making a welcome return from a long injury lay-off and taking over captain’s duties.

Dover’s unnamed trialist came close to adding a third while a couple of timely interventions at the back for the home side ensured Gillingham were kept at bay.

Dover: Nelson, Moses, Sterling, Paxman, Higgs, Wilkinson, Baptiste, Byford, Pavey, Carney, Wanadio.

Dover second half: Nelson, Judd, Moses (Agbebi 70mins), Paxman (Skirwayi 66mins), Green, Brundle, Martin, Trialist, Nikaj, Grant, Krasniqi.

Gillingham: Maynard-Brewer (Turner 20mins), Alexander (Wright 60mins), Tutonda (Akehurst 60mins), Baggott (Greenidge 46mins), Mensah (Carter 60mins), Williams (Jefferies 46mins), O’Keefe (Wise 60mins), Reeves (Kashket 46mins), Green (McDonald 60mins), Lee (MacArthur 60mins), Walker (Gbode 60mins). Sub not used: Moore.

Attendance: 917