A Luke Rooney hat-trick helped Gillingham to their fourth successive pre-season win on a cool evening at Woodside Park. With two friendlies in 24 hours, Manager Andy Hessenthaler mixed-up his personnel for this evening kick-off in Essex, fielding a number of first team regulars alongside trialists.
Lance Cronin and Stanley Aborah got another chance to display their skills while new faces Darren Lough, a left-back from Newcastle United and Jason Norville, a team mate of Hessenthaler from his days at Watford were also included in the starting XI.
Gillingham lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation with Kevin Maher taking the holding role at the rear of a midfield diamond, Aborah occupying the advanced role behind a strike pairing of White and Norville.
The visitors looked comfortable on the ball but it was the home team who threatened first, a quick break down the right on six minutes saw Reece Prestedge rise unmarked in the box to meet Mitch Hahn's cross but the forward headed wide with only the keeper to beat.
Fifteen minutes had passed before the Gills conjured a shot on target, Norville curling a tame low effort straight at keeper Ashley Jones. However there was nothing the home custodian could do to prevent the visitors opening goal soon after.
Norville was unceremoniously upended in the box by Bishops' centre-half Lynval Duncan, the in-form Luke Rooney took the spot kick and crashed home his third goal in as many games off the underside of the crossbar.
On 30 minutes the visitors had a great chance to extend their advantage as Luke Rooney's inswinging corner from the left carried to Josh Gowling in the box but the Gills captain blazed over the bar from close range.
A minute later that second goal arrived, Luke Rooney the goalscorer again, netting his fifth goal in six pre-season outings. The tenacious midfielder dispossessed a Stortford defender deep inside the home half and rifled a shot-on-the turn into the top corner from the left edge of the box.
Four minutes before the interval Gillingham added their third goal of the half after Andy White and Spiller combined to win the ball on the right side of the Stortford area, the latter crossing low to the far post for the lurking Jason Norville to tap in an easy finish.
HT 3-0
Trialist Malvin Kamara came on for the Gills at the start of the second half, the former MK Dons and Huddersfield wing-back taking up position on the right-hand touchline.
The visitors should have extended their lead as early as the 48th minute as Danny Spiller's cross from the left found Andy White in space in the centre, the young striker wrong-footed the keeper but his effort on goal was blocked by recovering defenders.
Luke Rooney completed his hat-trick ten minutes later after Andy White's cross from the right had forced Lynval Duncan to head behind his own goal. Substitute Kamara climbed headed Spiller's corner onto the crossbar and Rooney was on hand to force in the rebound.
On 65 minutes former Newcastle left-back Darren Lough, who looked comfortable in the Gills back four, made way for ex-Charlton youngster Jack Clarke. Sadly fellow trialist Stanley Aborah limped off soon after with what looked like a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Stefan Payne.
Bishop Stortford restored some pride for home fans in the 74th minute after a defence splitting pass allowed Leon Antoine to cut in behind Josh Gowling, round Cronin and coolly slot home into an empty net.
Moments later Malvin Kamara broke into the box on the right side of goal but was denied by a fine block from Bishops sub keeper Bert Greenwood. That would prove to be the last goalmouth action of the match as the tiring Gills players were content to retain possession and see out the half.
Attendance: 218
Gillingham: Lance Cronin, Darren Lough (Jack Clarke 65), Nicky Southall, Connor Essam, Josh Gowling, Kevin Maher, Luke Rooney, Danny Spiller, Andy White, Stanley Aborah (Stefan Payne 69), Jason Norville (Malvin Kamara 46).
Subs not used: Tony Sinclair, Jack Payne.
Bishops Stortford: Ashley Jones (Bert Greenwood 46), Ritchie Jones (Matt Jones 46), Aiden Palmer (Tom Querry 48), Alli Abdullahi (Lai Bas Lettejallow 52), Lynval Duncan, Jack Lampe (Stevland Angus 46), Mitch Hahn (Duane Jackman 59), Reece Prestedge (Dave Chick 56), Hakeem Araba (Leon Antoine 46), Scott Shulton (Jon Docker 46), Charlie Simpson (Chris Sargent 81).
