Dover clinch narrow 1-0 victory over Gills in pre-season friendly at Crabble Stadium
A second half goal from Sean Raggett clinched a narrow 1-0 win for Dover at Crabble Stadium on Tuesday night.In a game of few chances the Gills were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Mitch Walker who thwarted every attempt to maintain a clean sheet for the hosts.
Doug Loft and Cody McDonald both had efforts to level the scores but were unable to find the net.
Peter Taylor named a strong XI for the game; with Assistant boss Andy Hessenthaler taking the team that travelled to Faversham.
Stuart Nelson started in goal with Loft and Jake Hessenthaler in the centre of midfield with McDonald partnered up top by Kedwell.
Ashley Miller, formerly on the books at Gills, was on the bench for Dover with another ex-Priestfield graduate Tom Wynter starting at in defence.
Dover had a good chance in the opening minute when Nathan Elder saw an effort go wide of the target from a Ricky Modeste cross.
The hosts had a couple of early openings with Tom Murphy also going close, and Gills only effort in the opening quarter of an hour came from Jermaine McGlashan who saw his effort go over the bar.
On 22 minutes Richard Orlu unsuspectingly got contact off a corner kick, Elder was the first to pounce but fired an effort wide.
The game entered a quiet period with both sides eager to settle and retain possession, and the next chance didn’t come until the 38th minute when Martin struck a free kick narrowly off target.
On the stroke of half time Gills made their best chance of the match – Loft with a pass to Dickenson who saw his low effort saved by Walker.
H/T: 0-0
McDonald nearly opened his account for pre-season with an effort which, although beat Mitch Walker, didn’t defeat the recovering Sean Raggett who cleared the danger.
Dover then had a goal ruled out when Raggett got a touch to a shot from Craig Stone. The initial effort may have been going off target but the added interception saw the offside flag raised to rule it out.
But it was the centre back who finally did make the breakthrough – Barry Cogan delivered a great cross for the highly rated Raggett and he made no mistake in guiding it past Stuart Nelson with a bullet header.
Loft had an effort go wide of the target and another saved by Walker, sandwiching McDonald’s attempted chip which was caught by the back tracking goalkeeper.
Dover saw out the match to maintain their unbeaten run during pre-season, with Gills slipping to a narrow defeat.
However a second Gills XI, playing at Faversham, cruised to a 6-1 win at Salters Lane.
F/T: 1-0
Gillingham: Nelson, Marrs (McKain 79mins), Martin (Pearce 73mins), Egan, Hause, McGlashan, Hessenthaler (Staunton 88mins), Loft, Dickenson (Romeo 73mins), Kedwell (c), McDonald. Sub not used: Hadler.
Dover: Walker, Stone, Wynter, Sterling, Raggett, Orlu, Modeste (Payne 65mins), Lock (Deverdics 63mins), Elder (Reid 46mins), Bellamy (Cogan 63mins), Murphy (Nanetti 46mins). Subs not used: Francis, Hook, Kinnear, Goulding, Miller.