A young Gills XI put in a spirited and strong performance against Deal at the Charles Ground but conceded twice late on in a 4-1 defeat.
Mark Moss took the team with Logan Dobbs at the heart of a three man defence with Louie Dayal in midfield and Harry Bridle in attack.
Gills held their own in the opening exchanges and held Deal, who were promoted at the end of last season, to very little in terms of chances with a corner headed over from close range and a number of shots well blocked, in particular one from Dobbs six yards from goal.
On 21 minutes the visitors nearly got themselves in front when Jimmy Heasman, operating at left-wing back, advanced forward and offered Freddie Carruthers an option on the edge of the box. He decided to go for goal and struck the underside of the bar before Deal cleared.
A few minutes later and Heasman was in the box again, this time narrowly missing a ball from Alfie Cross which ultimately went wide of the target. A similar ball at the other end went inches wide of the post with Carter Sullivan rooted to the spot.
On the half-hour mark Bridle nearly pounced to put the Gills in front. A ball over the top from Cross put a defender under pressure, the resulting defensive header was a poor one but the striker was unable to find the back of the net with a first time shot.
Adam Molloy made a strong save from Carruthers on the stroke of half-time, but there was still time for Deal to take the lead, and they did so when Ben Chapman got just enough on a low cross from the right for his effort to deceive Sullivan.
H/T: Deal Town 1-0 Gills XI
Deal doubled their advantage soon into the second half when Ashley Miller, a former Gills youth player, had sufficient space inside the box to fire home.
The visitors remained in the game though and, despite the fact Deal had more of a physical presence, they continued to play their own game and nearly pulled a goal back on 72 minutes when Heasman got forward and beat the goalkeeper in a 50/50 race.
The ball sat up nicely for the forward but, on the turn, fired a shot wide of the woodwork. However, five minutes later, Gills got a deserved goal back via sub Sullivan Booth.
Fellow sub, Namyong Thebe, played a superb through ball and Booth remained onside. He skipped around Henry Newcombe and found the back of the net with real composure.
The hosts scored twice late on, the first through Kayden Jefferys when he managed to turn his man and find the opposite corner with a clinical effort before Alex Smith's powerful strike beat Fletcher Hegarty with just seconds left on the clock.
F/T: Deal Town 4-1 Gills XI
Deal: Molly (Newcombe 77), Moore, Green, Page (Vincent 58), Smith (Penny 34), Oni (Smith 49), Millbank (Munday 54), B Chapman (Paxman 61), T Chapman (Murray 73), Wilkinson (Jefferys 54), Miller
Gills: Sullivan (Hegarty 77), Trialist (Wheeler 89), Cross, Dobbs, Orpwood, Heasman (Adams 87), Beszant (Thebe 82), Clark (Mercer 57), Dayal, Carruthers (Booth 58), Bridle (Francis 73)
Attendance: 308
