Signs were far from encouraging for Andy Hessenthaler's men when they arrived at a near deserted Stade Julien Denis to discover that the hosts were not expecting to kick-off for a further three hours.
Following a series of conversations between officials on both sides and a host of frantic phone calls, Calais managed to assemble a squad for the fixture to finally get under way at 4.00pm. Hessy keeping faith with the 4-3-3 system that showed such promise at Dartford in midweek
The extra warm-up time clearly did Hessy's side no harm as the Gills quickly raced into a two goal lead. Luke Rooney capitalised on a mix-up in the home defence to score the first on three minutes, the young midfielder placing his finish into an empty net from the right hand edge of the box.
Summer signing Stefan Payne netted the second just four minutes later, Calais once again the architects of their own downfall. Captain Briesmalien and keeper Schille collided, allowing Payne to walk his first goal in Gillingham colours into an unguarded net.
That would prove to be one of the young striker's last contributions to the game as Stefan was surprisingly cautioned for what seemed to be dissent, the first of a number of mystifying decisions by the French referee. Payne then had to be substituted after a rash challenge on 20 minutes to prevent the local official from taking further action.
Gillingham always looked like adding to their tally and went close through Barry Fuller, who dragged a low-angled drive wide of the far post, and Dennis Oli whose acrobatic bicycle kick on the half hour blazed over the bar from close range.
Tony Sinclair was next to be booked for a clumsy challenge from behind, before the Gills netted their third of the half courtesy of Chris Palmer. Once more the home side's defending played a part as Hakda's mistimed clearance was turned into the net on the half-volley by Palmer.
The midfielder nearly set-up a fourth goal soon after when his left-wing cross flashed across the face of goal but neither Gowling nor the lurking Sinclair could make the final connection.
Five minutes from the break Kevin Maher rescued his side with a goal-line clearance before a strong challenge from Rooney led to a 22-man melee as tempers flared. Meanwhile an absurd third Gills booking saw Alan Julian carded for complaining as a Calais forward body-checked his efforts to take a goal-kick.
HT 3-0
Gills fans got their first glimpse of Cody McDonald after the break, the former Norwich forward being one of eight substitutes to enter the fray for the second half. But it was Dennis Oli who added his name to the score-sheet, racing onto a deep ball before slotting under the keeper to claim the visitors fourth.
The referee continued his erratic display by booking two Calais players early in the second-half, the second for a trip on Stanley Aborah which resulted in a free-kick that Danny Spiller ballooned wastefully over the bar on the hour mark.
Barry Fuller found himself in the book soon after for an innocuous challenge while trialist keeper Lance Cronin was called into action on 65 minutes to push Lorius Medy's dipping drive over the crossbar. Youanchi headed the resulting corner goalwards but Jackman was on hand to make a crucial block on the near post.
In the 70th minute Curtis Weston sent Oli clear with a clever pass over the top of defence, Oli hooked his finish towards the far corner but was denied by a spectacular stop from Calais keeper Fontaine. Two minutes later Nicky Southall replaced Barry Fuller at full-back to begin his fourth spell with the club as a player.
The game petered out in the latter stages but there was still time for Cody McDonald to fire narrowly side with a snap shot on the turn as Hessy's men enjoyed another encouraging pre-season workout.
Gillingham: Alan Julian (Lance Cronin 46), Barry Fuller (Nicky Southall 72), John Nutter (Danny Jackman 46), Tony Sinclair (Mark Bentley 46), Josh Gowling (Connor Essam 63), Kevin Maher (Jack Payne 46), Luke Rooney (Danny Spiller 46), Chris Palmer (Stanley Aborah 46), Stefan Payne (Dennis Oli 20), Andy White (Cody McDonald 46), Andy Barcham (Curtis Weston 46).
Calais: Cedric Schille (Kevin Fontaine 46), Kilian Hurtel, Benoit Hakda (Jonathon Fromage 46), Judicael Briesmalien, Frederc Gaillard (Moke Kasima 62), Jean Deledeuil (Kevin Hochand 81), Mickael Turi (Lucien Youanchi 55), Oliver Sboreni (Lorius Medy 46), Karim Krini (Gabriel Oudjani 46), Emmanuel Vasseur (Romain Blearard 52), Damien Becuwe.
