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Goals from Svetoslav Todorov (2), Darren Ambrose (2) and Jerome Thomas secured an easy win for the side relegated from the Premiership last season, with only David Graham seriously testing Nicky Weaver in the Addicks' goal.
The Gills looked off the pace, short of match fitness and lacking in team understanding compared to the visitors - and many fans streamed away from Priestfield in a less optimistic mood than when they entered the stadium two hours earlier.
Manager Ronnie Jepson fielded all his new signings, with Delroy Facey partnered up front by on-trial striker David Graham, who showed some good touches throughout the game. Meanwhile Facey looked heavy-legged, short of match fitness and was replaced at halftime by Gary Mulligan.
Another of the new signings, centre half Simon King, looked a decent acquisition, despite an unfortunate own goal (which was credited to Todorov), but after pulling back Iwelumo when the big striker was clean through, referee Gavin Ward abandoned any common sense and played the situation by the letter of the law, sending King off for a professional foul. King will now be suspended for one match, which could see him ruled out of the season opener at Cheltenham.
The match provided a chance to improve the squad's match fitness, which on today's evidence, is still severely lacking in places - but from a footballing point of view the Gills never really competed.
With Colchester United visiting Priestfield on Tuesday night, fans will be hoping for a vastly improved performance as the Gills prepare to kick off their campaign titled "Target Championship". On the evidence of today, Ronnie Jepson and his coaching staff have plenty of work to do if they want to achieve that aim.