In a game which served as a double header for the Youth Alliance Cup Southern Area Quarter Final as well as a Totesport.com Combination League clash, John Marquis first half strike was enough to steal the points.
The hosts started brightly and had the young Lions on the back foot in the early stages, creating a series of good opportunities in the opening 20 minutes. Nathan Nyafli's shot was well blocked by keeper Drummond, while the Gills also failed to apply the finish to a well worked short corner involving Jack Payne and Charlie Stimson. Ollie Bartrum went closest to opening the scoring with a strong run that saw the young full-back chip the keeper from 25 yards only to see his effort come back off the crossbar.
By contrast, the visitors found the net with their first real sight of goal, a cross from the right found John Marquis, who saw his initial shot stopped by Conor Quinn but made no mistake from the rebound.
Gillingham worked hard to break down the Lions in the second-half, but a professional display from Millwall kept their chances to a minimum. Keeper Drummond came to his sides rescue again, saving smartly from Charlie Stimson's header, which proved to be the Gills only real chance of the half.
For the final 20 minutes, Gillingham went for a more direct approach, with four in attack but for all their endeavours, the Lions were able to hold out for the win.
Although disappointed with the result, Manager Mark Patterson took positives from his side's display, "I was very pleased with the first half performance, their passing, movement and general play was good. They tried hard in the second-half, but it wasn't to be. On the balance of the game, we definitely had enough chances to win it.
A bad day for the youth team took a turn for the worse later when it was confirmed that centre-half and captain Connor Essam, stretchered off midway through the second-half, had torn his hip flexor muscle and is set to be sidelined for a month.
On a more positive note, the game also brought a welcome return to action for striker Callum Day who has missed the last couple of months with a dislocated shoulder.
Gillingham: Conor Quinn, Ollie Bartrum, Connor Essam (James Brown 60), Callum Davies, Jack Evans, Tom Brunt (Callum Day 80), Dean Rance, Jack Payne, Tom Murphy, Charlie Stimson, Nathan Nyafli (Ryan Benniman 70)
Subs: Alex Brown, Daran Hawkes.
