Alex Henshall netted a second minute goal for Town and that remains the difference between the sides at the break.
Trialists Balint Bajner and Kevin Bru started for the Blues, the Hungarian free agent striker, who was previously with Borussia Dortmund’s B team, having come on as a sub in the second half of Wednesday’s 3-0 victory at Colchester. French-Mauritian Kevin Bru was in midfield having played for the development side at Braintree on Tuesday.
Dean Gerken started in goal with Freddie Veseli at right-back, Jonny Parr on the left and Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith at the heart of the defence.
In central midfield Bru partnered Cole Skuse with Alex Henshall on the left and Cameron Stewart on the right. Up front, Bajner was joined by Paul Taylor.
Town, in orange, went ahead with their first attack of the game in only the second minute. Stewart cut in from the right and crossed low beyond Taylor but Henshall slammed home at the far post.
The Blues were close to a second in the sixth minute when Smith powered Henshall’s left-sided corner just over.
The Gills' first opportunity came in the ninth minute, defender John Egan heading Jake Hessenthaler’s right-wing corner into Gerken’s arms. Two minutes later, the Blues keeper was out quickly to claim a ball over the top ahead of Danny Kedwell.
On 20 Stewart failed to trouble Gills keeper Stuart Nelson with a 30-yard freekick after Taylor had been fouled by Hessenthaler. Given the very warm conditions, the teams took a drinks break midway through the half.
As the period moved into its final 10 minutes, Stewart curled a cross-shot to the far post but Bru was unable to get in a header. Moments later, a low Henshall corner from the left beat everyone on the edge of the six-yard box before being cleared.
Town continued to have the better of it in the remaining minutes before referee Andy D’Urso blew his whistle. The Blues had been comfortably on top throughout the half having taken the early lead.
The home side had been limited to a few efforts from distance and a couple of headers from corners which failed to test Gerken, while the Blues might have made more of some of their opportunities with the final ball lacking on occasion.
Goalscorer Henshall was again impressive on the left of midfield, while Bru was much the better of the two trialists, confident on the ball and making one or two feisty tackles.
The rest of the squad will get their chance either at half-time or later on in the second period.
Town: Gerken, Veseli, Chambers, Smith, Parr, Stewart, Bru, Skuse, Henshall, Bajner, Taylor. Subs: Bialkowski, Hewitt, Berra, Mings, Anderson, Hyam, Wordsworth, Murphy, Nouble, Marriott.