Gillingham saw their perfect pre-season record disappear as they were beaten at Priestfield.

A torrid first 45 minutes saw the Gills ship three goals but they deserved at least a consolation from a much improved second half.

Martin Allen’s side had won their previous six first team games of the summer but found life tough against Watford, in what was their last test before the season starts next week against Bristol City in the Capital One Cup.

The visitors opened the scoring with 12 minutes gone as Matej Vydra guided home a cross past Gills keeper Tommy Forecast from close range.

Forecast had been busy in the opening stages, blocking a couple of efforts before conceding, while at the other end Charlie Lee – playing upfront alongside new signing Deon Burton – stung the Watford keeper’s hands.

Gills boss Allen had fielded an experimental side for the encounter against Gianfranco Zola’s men and they were two goals down after 15 minutes. Connor Essam’s block tackle cannoned off Vydra and looped over Forecast for a lucky second.

Lee Hodson missed a great chance for Watford but just before the half hour mark Watford broke, out-numbering the Gills defence, and Connor Smith stroked the ball past Forecast to make it three.

An open game saw chances at both ends with Watford keeper Jonathan Bond blocking shots from Burton and youngster Alex Brown following some good build-up play.

Allen changed the side around after the break to tighten up and it did the trick, with experienced heads Danny Kedwell, Chris Whelpdale and Danny Strevens all coming on. Kedwell came close to scoring just past the hour mark with a glancing header.

Late in the game Gills substitute Bradley Dack put a good chance over the bar. A better second 45 minutes deserved a goal and somehow it never arrived, with in-form Kedwell even finding the post with just the keeper to beat.

Gillingham: Forecast (Hawkes 88mins), Evans (Fish 60mins), Flanagan, Essam (Kedwell 46mins), Martin, Davies, Allen (Miller 87mins), Montrose, Brown (Whelpdale 46mins), Burton (Strevens 46mins), Lee (Payne 43mins (Dack 60mins)).

Watford: Bond, Hodson, Tumwa, Thompson, Forsyth, Jenkins, Bennett, Vydra (Winchelow 54mins), Mingola (Anya 54mins), Iwelumo (Massey 78mins), Smith (Hamilton 46mins). Subs: Stack, Massey, Doyley, Murray, Buaben.