Gillingham were held to a goalless draw by Ryman Premier League newcomers Croydon Athletic in their penultimate friendly this afternoon.

The game was played at Bourne Park, the home of Sittingbourne FC, due to the pitch not being ready at the Rams own Ken Tuckey Stadium. Although that said, the Brickies pitch itself wasn't too great and certainly didn't help the Gills passing game.

Of course with the game being played locally it gave numerous Gills fans, who boosted the attendance to 343, another chance to see how things are shaping up ahead of next Saturday's opening League Two fixture with Cheltenham.

Croydon, the 'home' team, were managed by ex-Priestfield duo Tim O'Shea and Neil Smith who between them clocked up 382 games for the Gills.

Andy Hessenthaler was able to give 19 of his squad a run-out in a couple of different formations including Garry Richards who replaced the excellent Connor Essam in the 73^rd minute. This was the central defenders first appearance since the game at Millwall back in early April.

Among the absentee's were the injured Barry Fuller, Cody McDonald, both Jack and Stefan Payne and Curtis Weston while young striker Andrew White only lasted 24 minutes before suffering what looked like a hamstring problem - Mark McCammon replaced him.

It was the White that almost put the visitors ahead with just 20 seconds on the clock but unfortunately his delicate chip just cleared the bar.

Stanley Aborah curled a free-kick over the top before keeper Mark Fox reacted well to keep out a better effort from the former Belgian youth international who hooked Danny Jackman's cross goalwards.

Croydon's only real threat in the opening 45 minutes was a long range shot from Gary Noel that was straight at Lance Cronin.

The best chance of the half came in the 40^th minute. Trialist Jason Norville seeing his decent angled strike beat the keeper but not the bar and Tom Hutchinson cleared the loose ball as McCammon closed in.

H/T: 0-0

Early in the second-half McCammon had a shot blocked before the referee waved away appeals for a penalty although it looked as if Norville was thrown to the ground by Jeremy Williams.

In the 64^th minute Norville was in the thick of the action once again. His header from Darren Lough's left-wing cross beat Fox again and was goalbound until Joe Howe got back to hack clear off the line.

Sporadic substitutions by the Gills led to a disjointed second-half performance although youth team full-back Jack Evans made his first appearance with the senior side and the arrival of Andy Barcham did liven things up.

Two of Athletic's substitutes came close to breaking the deadlock, former Gillingham youngster Rory Hill tested Cronin from distance while Leslie Thompson fierce near post strike certainly would have warmed the keepers fingers.

A late chance was created when Mark Bentley sent Barcham away down the right and the ball was cut-back to Adebayo Akinfenwa who could only scoop the ball over as a challenge came in.

The final pre-season game is at Ryman League (South) newboys Faversham Town on Tuesday night when the likes of Adebayo Akinfenwa, Mark McCammon and Garry Richards will be hoping to get further minutes under their belts. 

Croydon: Fox, Howe, Green (Bourne HT), Judge (Dolan HT), Hutchinson (J Williams HT), Dolan (Bolarinwa 16 - Thompson 67), Long (Hill HT), Piper (Barnes HT), G Williams (May HT), Noel (Godfrey HT), Wright (Waldren HT).