Gillingham kicked off their League 2 campaign in unseasonal conditions at a wet and windswept Fitness First Stadium.  Mark Stimson stuck with the side that have started most of the Gills pre-season friendlies and handed debuts to Striker Mark McCammon and loan signing Curtis Weston  in right midfield.

The first half was a tense affair with both sets of fans in excellent voice after their summer break. With former England international Darren Anderton pilling the strings in midfield, the home side were obviously keen to claw back some of their 17 point penalty but struggled to find a way through the Gills defence.

At the other end Mark McCammon and Simeon Jackson caused havoc for the home defence, suggesting their partnership could be a fruitful one for the Gills this season.

Gillingham's first chance of note came on 22 minutes as Andrew Crofts found Simeon Jackson on the edge of the area. Jackson drew the keeper and looked on course to score only to see Shwan Jalal hook his goal bound effort clear with an outstretched leg.

Just after the half hour mark, Jackson went close again latching on to a cross from the right by McCammon.  But, with the keeper beaten, his effort flashed just wide of the far post. McCammon then forced a save from the home keeper with a powerful header on 35 minutes. Before Jackson's snap shot from a Mark Bentley header had Jalal at full stretch to save.

Against the run of play the home side took the lead in the 42nd minute with a vintage piece of skill from Darren Anderton.  The veteran midfielder weaved a path through the Gills defence before slotting past Simon Royce to give Bournemouth a 1-0 lead at half time.

After the break, Gillingham contiunued to dominate proceedings, roared on by an impressive away support. The Gills away following was boosted at half time by one unfortunate coach-load which was severely delayed by traffic.

Mark McCammon continued to prove a handful for the home defence, winning everything in the air. His knock down in the 58th minute gave Simeon Jackson room to shoot from the edge of the area but his strike went wide of the far post.

On the hour, Mark McCammon fashioned a chance of his own. Collecting the ball just in side the Bournemouth half, he found a way through the home defence but couldn't keep his shot on target.

With time running out Mark Stimson sent on Tyrone Berry to make his League debut for the Gills but despite playing most of the game in their opponents half, the Gills could not get the ball in the net.

In the 82nd minute Simeon Jackson came close to equalising with a deflected effort from the edge of the area. His strike came off the heel of a Bournemouth defender but Jalal reacted well to make the save.

In the closing stages, Mark Stimson brought on Gary Mulligan and switched to a 4-3-3 formation,. The gamble payed off with Mulligan firing home a Tyrone Berry cross in the 90th minute to give the Gills a well deserved point.