Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler named himself and coach Nicky Southall in an otherwise young Gillingham side against Bly Spartans.
The home side, who will be playing in the newly-formed Kent Invicta League this coming season, will hopefully have enjoyed a reasonable pay day as around 300 people attended the game to mark the 'switching on' of the Strood based club's floodlights.
The ceremony was held at half-time when Paul Peacock of Kent County Playing Fields - who provided the assistance for the floodlights - 'flicked the switch'.
Gills keeper Ashley Bourne (below) was the busier keeper throughout saving early on from Matt McHugh and later keeping out a fierce, angled strike from Sean Hetterley.
For the Gills, who were road testing the new (unfortunately numberless) black kit , Bradley Dack fired over before Nathan Nyafli failed to take a gilt-edged chance when heading a Josh Maughan cross wide when well-placed.
Spartans continued to press but failed to make the breakthrough, Ashley Cooper headed over, Maughan cleared off the line to deny Anthony Uden, and Bourne made a decent save to keep out a downward header from Ryan Robson.
At the other end, an Ollie Lee low strike was tipped round the post by Jay Dorking, one of three keepers used by Bly boss Matt Hulme, and Dorking also kept out a curling shot from Jake Hessenthaler who looked to be enjoying his run-out alongside his father.
With the lights switched-on, there was a lively start to the second-half as first Pat Bishenden headed at Bourne before at the other end a cracking effort from Ashley Miller saw Dorking push aside.
Referee Kelvin Clare probably won't be on boss Hess's Xmas card list after earning a long lecture and later a booking from the official.
The opening goal came from the penalty spot in the 70th minute when youngster Harry Brown was harshly adjudged to have brought down Hetterley. Skipper Kevin Penfold confidently fired home the resultant spot-kick high beyond Bourne.
Miller and Southall (twice) failed to hit the target before Spartans wrapped up the victory with ten minutes remaining when James Alderman finished confidently.
Bly Spartans (starting line-up) - Foster, Payne, Cooper, Mitchell, Brett, Beale, Robson, Uden, Penfold, McHugh, Hetterley Subs: Alderman, Smith, Bishenden, Hodge, Murphy, Allen, Beckwith, Connor, Watkins (GK), Dorking (GK)
Gillingham - Bourne, Butcher, Maughan, Hare (Staunton 63), Lee (Brown H/T), A. Hessenthaler (Beard 73), J. Hessenthaler (Coates 63), Southall, Dack (Millbank 63), Ford (Haysman H/T), Nyafli (Miller H/T [Nyafli 73])
