Shadrach Ogie scored the only goal as Gillingham earned a narrow away win over non-league Dagenham & Redbridge in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday.

The defender headed home to make it 1-0 in the early stages of a second period which was better than the first had been, while goalkeeper Jake Turner claimed a well-earned clean sheet ahead of next weekend’s competitive opener at much-fancied Stockport.

He initially tipped over a dangerous cross by right wing-back Josh Hare - one of several ex-Gillingham players in the Daggers’ side - in the seventh minute amid a fairly productive afternoon.

Gills created their first opportunity with 17 minutes played. Recently-signed striker Ashley Nadesan did well to win a free-kick, taken by Max Clark, which home skipper and keeper Elliot Justham palmed away from danger in front of a crowd of 579 at Victoria Road.

Four minutes later, the visitors could have taken the lead against their National League hosts. Clark and Dom Jefferies combined well on the left before Tim Dieng forced a sharp save out of Justham and 28-year-old Nadesan fired over the loose ball.

Frank Vincent went for the spectacular on the half-hour mark for Dagenham but dragged his long-range strike tamely wide.

A cross by fellow midfielder Jake Hessenthaler, son of Gillingham’s head of recruitment Andy Hessenthaler, was met by former Dover frontman Inih Effiong, five minutes later. His goal-bound header was easily gathered by Turner.

Jefferies had been one of the Kent outfit’s first-half bright sparks and went close, only to be denied by the feet of Justham with less than 90 seconds left of a goalless and pretty uneventful first period.

Ben Strevens’ home side made two changes at the interval as one old Gillingham player, Josh Rees, came off and another, Myles Weston, was introduced.

League 2 Gillingham broke the deadlock on 52 minutes. Clark’s free-kick was parried away by Justham but centre-half Ogie headed into the empty net from yards out.

Three minutes later, ex-Newcastle player Turner had to be alive to tip over Hare’s free-kick which appeared destined to dip into the top corner.

Scott Malone and Robbie McKenzie were brought on by the away team midway through the half for Clark and Jayden Clarke.

The visitors could have doubled their advantage with 16 minutes to play as Dieng sent a Tom Nichols lay-off sailing over the crossbar, the usual procession of substitutions then occurring either side of the action.

The Daggers trialist forced another good stop from Turner with a curling 82nd-minute shot while Nichols became one of two Gills players booked after the restart for dissent.

With less than 90 seconds left, 24-year-old Turner got down low to hold Vincent’s drive.

Gills manager Neil Harris had given Nadesan, signed on an undisclosed fee from League 2 rivals Crawley Town in the week, a first start.

Turner also started while veteran goalkeeper Glenn Morris was an unused substitute on the bench.

Just a week before their competitive campaign begins, Shaun Williams, Jonny Williams, Conor Masterson, Oli Hawkins and Will Wright missed the warm-up game for the visitors.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare, Eastman, Hessenthaler (Tavares 76mins), Vincent, Rees (Ibie 46mins), Effiong (Blair 79mins), Page, Phipps (Kendall 68mins), Ling (Weston 46mins), trialist. Subs not used: Strizovic.

Gillingham: Turner, Alexander, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark (Malone 65mins), Jefferies (Lapslie 79mins), Coleman, Dieng, Clarke (McKenzie 65mins), Nichols (Gbode 88mins), Nadesan. Subs not used: Morris, Chambers.

Attendance: 579.