Coach Jamie Day was pleased to see a young Gillingham team put through their paces at the weekend.

It took a moment of quality to finally break the deadlock at Canvey Island as the Gills won 1-0.

Day said: “It was a good goal, it was the best part of the game for us, but it was about fitness and although it lacked a bit of quality at times we got what we wanted to get out of it.

“Some of the first team players got 90 minutes and we’ll keep working hard now going into the game on Saturday.

Report: Canvey Island 0 Gillingham 1

“They (Canvey) were hard to break down, they worked hard, put tackles in and caused our three centre halves a bit of an issue, which is what we wanted. We didn’t want an easy game.

“It was a good experience for the younger ones and the older ones got the 90 minutes required. It was a really young defence but luckily they have played together in the youth team and they were up against experienced players who know non-league. They will have learned a few thing from this game.”

It was Gills’ eighth and final pre-season match and the result ensured they go into the new season with an unbeaten summer campaign behind them.

“We had a win and a clean sheet and they are always nice,” Day said.

“The environment is good, it’s a lot better than last year and that is credit to the boys. They have knuckled down, worked hard and they have got minutes on the field. That has to stay with us for the rest of the season.”