Gillingham 1 Millwall 0 - Pre-season match report from Priestfield Stadium

Gillingham got the better of Championship side Millwall in their midweek pre-season match at Priestfield.

New Gills striker Will Goodwin netted his first goal in new colours to open the scoring early in the first half, and that goal proved the difference as Gareth Ainsworth’s side won 1-0.

Gillingham’s injury list was down to six senior players for the midweek visit of Millwall.

Tuesday’s match was preceded by a minute’s applause in memory of Gills’ former director of football Kenny Jackett, a man who had once led Millwall to promotion as their manager.

Backed by 1,800 fans, many Millwall supporters were looking at their 2026/27 team for the first time after their return from Spain and games against a couple of La Liga 2 sides.

For the Gills fans, there was relief to see strikers Goodwin and Ronan Hale back after missing the weekend game against Charlton.

Remaining absent were first-choice goalkeeper Ollie Wright and outfield players Armani Little, Ethan Coleman, Cameron Antwi, Bradley Dack and Garath McCleary. With youngster Taite Holtam not involved, a back-up keeper helped warm up youngster Lennon MacLorg before kick-off and got a couple of minutes of action at the end.

Millwall missed out on promotion to the Premier League in the play-offs at the end of the previous season and were expected to be a step up in class to what Gillingham faced days earlier against Charlton.

The visitors were showing some pre-season rustiness, however, and presented the Gills with an early chance. Hale picked up a stray pass but keeper Lukas Jensen denied him and then made another save as Goodwin attempted to guide the loose ball home from an angle.

Goodwin was spearheading the Gills attack with Hale and James Brophy either side.

Once again the Gills were playing with wing-backs, trialist Nick Freeman continuing to show his versatility, as he stood in to play on the right flank.

Freeman claimed an assist as Gills opened the scoring on 16 minutes. Brophy played the ball to the trialist, he found Goodwin and the centre-forward picked his spot through a crowded area.

Josh Coburn fired a weak effort at Gills keeper MacLorg as Millwall grew into the game and provided a stern test to the defence as the half wore on.

They were given few clear-cut chances but when they did, after Coburn had flicked the ball into the path of Mathis Servais, MacLorg pulled off a great low save from the subsequent shot.

Gills made a trio of changes at the break. Freeman switched sides to take over as left wing-back, Sam Gale went over to the right and in attack Seb Palmer-Houlden and Louie Dayal got their opportunity to impress.

Millwall changed their entire outfield team at the interval.

Seb Palmer-Houlden nearly scored Gillingham’s second shortly after the restart as he closed down the Millwall keeper. He blocked the clearance and watched as the ball bounced just wide of the goal.

Gills centre-half Liam Gordon made his mark with a robust challenge that led to him picking up a booking.

With an hour gone, Gillingham’s changes came, introducing seven outfield substitutes, including a handful of youngsters once again.

Both sides struggled to find an opening in the second half with overhit passes ending the best openings that either side could muster.

Sam Gale made a timely clearance to keep Millwall out with five minutes left and MacLorg saved well from Sheldon Kendall as the visitors pressed for a late equaliser.

Goalkeeper MacLorg received warm applause as he left the field to be replaced by the stand-in trialist.

Gillingham’s pre-season continues with a game at Chatham on Friday night and a behind-closed-doors match away against Brentford B on Saturday.

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