With a glamour friendly against Heart of Midlothian to come on Thursday evening, the Gills fielded an unfamiliar line-up comprised of youngsters and trialists for their first ever outing at Thames Road.

New signing Lance Cronin started between the posts while ex-Charlton youngster Jack Clarke, Huddersfield wing-back Malvin Kamara and Watford striker Jason Norville were all given a second chance to shine.

They were joined by a centre-half named Aaron Leacock and Hendon's Daniel Page, a lively forward who was given a start after another trialist pulled up injured in the warm-up. First year professional Connor Essam was handed the captain's armband for the night.

Not surprisingly Concord settled quickly on home soil and twice tested Cronin who rose well to deny a far post header from James Lawson before stooping low to scoop up Jai Reason's well struck 10^th minute free-kick.

Bertie Brayley drilled a low strike past Cronin on 15 minutes but Page was on hand to make a fine clearance on the goal line. Five minutes later Reason tried his luck from the edge of the area only to see his effort well held by the Gills custodian.

The visitors lacked bite in attack and Concord looked the only likely scorers, though Lance Cronin continued to thwart their best efforts, diving well to stop another Brayley chance ten minutes before the break.

In the last minute of the half Cronin leapt well to save Harry Elmes shot on the turn while Gillingham finally registered an effort on target moments later with Lamar Johnson holding Jason Norville's powerful drive on the goal line.

HT 0-0

At the start of the second half  former Everton and Arsenal youngster Moses Barnett replaced Page, taking up a role at left-full back while Clarke pushed forward into midfield.

Concord took just two second half minutes to put the Gills goal under pressure, Brayley firing just over with a dipping free-kick. Seconds later Lawson broke into the area, Cronin made a stunning block and Tony Stokes rifled the rebound wide of the far post.

Following a host of substitutions Gillingham were unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 65^th minute as Malvin Kamara raced into the box and beat sub keeper Luke Dodd only to roll his finish wide of the far post.

Two minutes later the hosts did find the net after a long ball forward sent Kayan Kalipha clean through on goal, he rounded the advancing Cronin and slotted home into an empty net to give Concord the lead.

Mark McCammon replaced Kamara with 20 minutes remaining to make his first appearance in Gills colours since undergoing ankle surgery in the summer. Nine minutes later Concord cemented their lead as sub Dave Collins found space in the visitors half to rifle a low shot beyond Hawkes and into the far corner.

Gills looked to have pulled one back in the 82^nd minute as Lamar Johnson stood up well to block first Moses Barnett then Norville, McCammon followed up to head over the line but his effort was ruled offside. Moments later the big man found himself one-on-one with the keeper but was thwarted again as the Concord keeper stole the ball off his toes.

Gillingham: Lance Cronin (Daren Hawkes 76), Jack Evans, Jack Clarke, Alex Brown, Connor Essam, Aaron Leacock (Callum Davies 37), Malvin Kamara (Mark McCammon 71), Tom Brunt, Jason Norville, Daniel Page (M Barnett 46), Luke Medley.

Concord Rangers: Lamar Johnson (Luke Dodd 64), Ashley Miller, Danny Glozier (Dave Collins 64), Nicky Cowley (Kayan Kalipha 61), John Easterford (Sam Taylor 64), Lee White (Kurt Smith 64), Jai Reason, Bertie Brayley (Mark Sontag 61), James Lawson (Taylor Sinfield 64), Harry Elmes (James Elmes 61), Tony Stokes (Russell Malton 61).