KEVIN Nisbet got Millwall’s pre-season off to the perfect start as he scored on his debut in the Lions’ first official friendly.
The striker, signed from Hibernian last month, converted from the spot to make Millwall’s first half dominance pay off at Gillingham.
The Championship side found themselves in total control in the first-half before sweeping half-time changes.
The second half team, featuring regulars such as Shaun Hutchinson and Zian Flemming, struggled to replicate the same dominance and Gillingham threatened to equalise.
But Millwall eventually put the game to bed when half-time sub Aidomo Emakhu lashed home in the 87th minute to give Gary Rowett’s side a strong start to their pre-season campaign.
Match details
The opening goal almost came in the opening minutes from Murray Wallace – assisted by the relentless winds in Kent.
The defender, playing at left centre-back, ventured forward and sent a cross in from deep.
In normal conditions the ball would have landed in the Gillingham keeper’s grateful hands but the wind sent the ball spiralling onto the roof of the net.
Less freakish chances soon followed for the Lions who quickly showed off their superiority, having finished 57 places higher than the Gills in the football pyramid last season.
Duncan Watmore cut in onto his right foot and left Jake Turner needing to make a one-handed save to knock the ball away.
Before Billy Mitchell slammed an effort just past the post when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area after 13 minutes
The pressure was growing and Gillingham finally broke 26 minutes in as Millwall headed towards their box again.
Not for the first time, Watmore picked up a pocket of space and tried to spring past Gillingham players.
But he was taken out by former QPR defender Conor Masterson for a stonewall penalty.
Nisbet stepped up and sent his effort in the top left-hand corner as keeper Turner went in the opposite direction.
The only negative of a spirited first-half for Millwall came when George Honeyman went down in his own box.
The 28-year-old, stationed at right-wing back, pulled up after 20 minutes.
He walked off the pitch minutes later to be replaced by Danny McNamara.
At half-time McNamara would be joined by his fellow 10 substitutes as Rowett made wholesale changes, with the impressive Romain Esse among those taken off.
The second-half was a whole different ball game as an improved Gillingham, who made changes of their own, began to find fluency.
Suddenly the League Two side carried threat and sub goalkeeper George Long had to smother an effort from Ethan Coleman after the ball broke to him from a corner early in the second half.
And later in the 66th minute Long would be required again after rising Lions star Chin Okoli was robbed of the ball by Joe Gbode near the halfway line.
He charged through but luckily for Okoli, Long blocked his effort.
That would be Gillingham’s best chance before Millwall managed to wrestle back some control.
But the second-half team struggled to look as dangerous or intense as the 11 that started.
Youngster Emakhu, partnered with Andreas Voglsammer up front for the second 45, looked brightest and forced a save out of substitute Gillingham keeper Glenn Morris early in the half from close range.
But his crowning moment would come at the end of the game as he took the ball from the edge of the box and lashed an emphatic finish into the corner of the net.
Both Nisbet and Emakhu also scored in a behind closed doors friendly against Bromley earlier this week.
The game marked the first match in front of fans since the death of Millwall chairman John Berylson.
Rowett and Gillingham boss Neil Harris carried out a wreath together before kick-off while away fans sang the late owner’s name throughout the match.
Gillingham: 4-2-3-1: Turner; Alexander, Ehmer, Masterson, Clark; S Williams, Chambers; J Williams, Dieng, Clarke; Nichols.
Millwall: 3-4-1-2: Bialkowski (Long 46′); A Mitchell (Okoli 46′), Cooper (Hutchinson 46′), Wallace (Leonard 46′) Honeyman (McNamara 20′), B Mitchell (Saville 46′), Esse (Evans 46′), Bryan (Adom-Malaki 46′); Watmore (Flemming 46′); Bradshaw (Emakhu 46′), Nisbet (Voglsammer 46′).
Attendance: 5012
Referee: John Busby
