Mark McCammon goes in for a header with Mark Bentley Pic: Peter Still

by Luke Cawdell

Luke Rooney took his pre-season goal tally to seven but Gillingham were beaten in a well-contested friendly at Priestfield.

Scottish Premier Division side Hearts named a strong side for the match but League 2 Gills were a decent match.

Boss Andy Hessenthaler gave new signing Adebayo Akinfenwa (pictured, right) his first run-out in Gillingham colours as he came on midway through the second half with Mark McCammon.

Gillingham had a first-half penalty appeal turned down when it looked as though Andy Barcham had been clipped from behind by Lee Wallace, after the winger had beaten him inside the area, but referee Gavin Ward waved play-on.

The Gills had the better of the first half efforts and in-form Chris Palmer nearly scored from outside the area. A great run was followed by a dipping shot that went narrowly over.

Hearts defender Darren Barr had to clear off his own line before the break, following a deflection off one of their own players, but the scores remained goalless at the break.

That changed with just four minutes of the second half gone. Ismael Bouzid felled the lively Stefan Payne in the area and Rooney smashed the penalty high into the net past keeper Janos Balogh.

Just two minutes later though Hearts levelled when Ryan Stevenson found Arvydas Novikovas and the forward finished with a low shot past Alan Julian.

With six minutes left Hearts won the game with a header from Bouzid as he converted David Templeton’s corner.

Gillingham fans got a glimpse of trialist Stanley Aborah once more and he showed some nice foot-work in the middle of the field.

Gillingham: Julian (Cronin 80mins), Sinclair, Nutter (Lough 72mins), Gowling, Bentley, J Payne (Maher 46mins), Weston (Rooney 46mins), Palmer (Jackman 61mins), Spiller (Aborah 61mins), S Payne (Akinfenwa 65mins), Barcham (McCammon 65mins). Subs not used: White, Essam.

Attendance: 2,359.

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