A hot summer’s evening brought the chance to watch a Medway derby in a friendly between Chatham Town of the Isthmian League Premier Division and League Two’s Gillingham FC.

The Bauvill Stadium is always a great venue for watching football and a decent crowd of 1286 had packed themselves in to watch tonight’s friendly fixture.

Manager of Chatham Town, Kevin Hake, balanced his team with new names, established names and some trialists. Last seasons top scorers, Jamie Yila and Jack Evans were starters. On the bench was new signing and ex West Ham, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town player, Freddie Sears.

Gillingham’s new manager Mark Bonner, would have come into this game keen to try out his own blend of experience, new faces and trialists. Gillingham had a match with Watford scheduled for the next day so this side was undoubtedly a youth squad.

The game had only just begun when, in the 5th minute, an error in the Gillingham defence allowed Bradley Sach to open the scoring, making it 1-0 to Chatham Town.

In the 19th minute it was 2-0 when Luke Robinson bundled the ball over the line from close range to cement the home team’s control of the first half.

The half ended as with Jamie Yila being stopped by the keeper twice when through on goal. At the break the teams went in with Chatham Town leading 2-0.

The second half saw Gillingham absorbing a lot of Chatham Town pressure. On the counter attack their forwards Jimmy Heaseman and Louie Dayal were always a threat.

With just seven minutes of the game left Gillingham FC pulled a goal back against the run of play. Freddie Carruthers stabbing the ball home, after some fine build up play on the right hand side.

Despite a series of Chatham Town corners there were to be no further goals in this entertaining game.

Chatham Town will have felt the pre-season has gone well so far after wins against Coventry City and now Gillingham FC.

Manager Kevin Hake will have learnt a lot as he tried now to build a team that can secure what would be a third promotion in four seasons.

Gillingham left knowing they had been in a fight in this Medway derby match. Tomorrow the senior members of the squad will face an even stronger challenge when Watford of the Championship, visit.