Gills claim a draw against Dover Athletic at Crabble
Gillingham maintained their unbeaten record on home soil during pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Dover Athletic at Crabble on Saturday afternoon.A second minute goal from Brennan Dickenson was cancelled out by Ricky Miller’s effort before the break. The second half saw few chances created, although Dover keeper Mitch Walker had to be alert to deny Bradley Dack late on.
Justin Edinburgh included new signing Adedeji Oshilaja in the starting XI who partnered Max Ehmer at the back, meanwhile Jordan Houghton kept his place in midfield with Jake Hessenthaler recovering in time to get minutes under his belt.
Dickenson got the nod up front to partner Rory Donnelly who scored against Folkestone earlier in pre-season.
First year scholar Darren Oldaker was named on the bench alongside Mitchell Dickenson, Elliott List and Emmanuel Osadebe.
The management staff had hardly sat down before Gillingham took the lead in the second minute.
Donnelly received the ball on the left hand side and played a lovely ball to Dickenson in the centre of the penalty area who clinically guided the ball beyond keeper Walker and into the corner.
The winger was the latest forward to find the net during pre-season, but it was at the other end just minutes later where Glenn Morris had to be alert.
Within the space of 30 seconds he denied Miller twice, the first effort being comfortably saved before the second, courtesy of a misplaced ball from Garmston, was brilliantly stopped at the near post from an acute angle.
On nine minutes Dickenson nearly had his second of the game; Dack taking advantage of a heavy touch in the centre of the pitch.
He was brought down but advantage was played as Dickenson pounced, he ran 30 yards before sending a right footed effort wide of the near post.
Seven minutes later and Dover leveled things up against the run of play. A throw in on the far side found Miller in yards of space in the centre, Morris came out to narrow the gap but the striker produced a clever lob to give the keeper no chance.
On 28 minutes Dover thought they had taken the lead when Stefan Payne managed to take advantage of a dropped catch by Morris following a Dover free kick, however the referee blew for a foul against the keeper which ruled out the effort.
Seconds later and the former Gills striker was at it again, from distance he spotted Morris off his line and decided to have a go from 30 yards.
The strike was clean but unfortunately for the hosts it was narrowly wide of the right hand post.
On 38 minutes Morris had to be alert once again, Payne spotted strike partner Miller making a run towards the left hand side of the penalty area.
His pass was inch perfect but Morris spotted the danger and was off his line quickly to block the shot.
H/T: 1-1
Gills started the half on the front foot with Dickenson’s early effort crashing into the side netting from a tight angle before having a long range effort well caught by Walker.
On the hour mark Dover came close to taking the lead when Nick Deverdics presented an inviting ball towards the far post, Miller watched it all the way but sent his powerful volley over the bar.
Ben Williamson, on for Bradley Garmston, forced a strong save from Walker on 73 minutes before Dack forced an ever better one 11 minutes later.
The midfielder latched onto a perfectly weighted ball from Williamson and glided past a defender before his powerful shot was brilliantly blocked by the goalkeeper before a second effort was deflected wide for a corner which was well cleared.
F/T: 1-1
Dover: Walker, Magri, Sterling (Wynter 79), Grimes, Raggett, Orlu, Deverdics (Diallo 74), Bellamy, Payne (Ofori-Acheampong 76), Miller (Modeste 69), Murphy.
Unused subs: Priddle, Nyarwu,, Rafferty, Burnett-Williams.
Gillingham: G Morris, Jackson, Garmston (Williamson 66), Ehmer, Oshilaja (Egan 46), A Morris (Osadebe 58), Hessenthaler (Oldaker 79). Houghton, Dack, B Dickenson, Donnelly (Norris 73).
Unused subs: Nelson, M Dickenson, List
Referee: Mr N Lugg