Lordswood’s win over Gillingham was the icing on the cake - on an evening where the club got to show what they are all about.

The Southern Counties East Football League hosts were hoping for a good turnout to watch the match and double the number expected turned up.

More: Lordswood 1 Gillingham 0

“It was more than we could have ever expected,” said Lordswood’s director of football Jason Lillis.

“We were working on around 250 probably, but it shows that the community want to support us. We know that we were playing Gillingham and that’s big but I think the people that have come have seen what hard work has gone on behind the scenes.”

It was a race against time at Lordswood to ensure the ground was ready for the midweek match after new seating was installed in the stand, the changing rooms had a refurb, the kitchen and boardroom were transformed and there was plenty of other work done beside.

“The boys have done so much,” said Lillis. “Ray Broad (the chairman) and Gary Peck (vice chair) have come in and financially got us on the right footing and without them we couldn’t have really done this.

“Yes, we all put the time and effort in to run the club, but the two boys have been brilliant. It was a proud night for us.”

The match also helped raise money for the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust.

Former Gillingham player Lillis, who is also the head of academy education at Priestfield, is passionately trying to improve the fortunes of Lordswood, alongside the club’s new hierarchy.

Tuesday’s game saw a young Lords side give the Gills a real competitive test, winning 1-0.

Lillis was pleased with the victory, but a crowd of 507 and a buzzing home ground was what mattered most.

He said: “As a football club we can only be proud of the night. The football side was good, it was the icing on the cake, but the day was about bringing the community back and showing what we are about.

“We want to put us on the map, we are doing small steps, we will see where it takes us. The community has come out in force to show that we are ready to go again.

“There are certain things that the boys need to work on, they are young, but overall everyone has gone away happy.”

Lordswood aren’t in action this Saturday during the first weekend of the SCEFL Premier Division season. They host Egham Town next Saturday (August 5) in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup.