Dartford 1 Gillingham 2

Match 08/16/1316 - Tuesday, 26th July 2016 - Pre-Season Friendly

Dartford (1) 1 Hayes 13
Gillingham (0) 2 Osadebe 48, Quigley 65
Attendance: 801

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 72/1,209

Match Report

There is, without doubt, plenty to work on before Southend in a couple of week's time, but it does appear that things are starting to take shape. Barring one crucial aspect, everything seemed so much sharper at Prince's Park than a week ago at Concord Rangers.

The passing and movement was really good on the eye, but it continually lacked, especially in the first half, the finishing touch.

Paul Konchesky, Gillingham's most recent summer signing, will bring a whole lot more than just experience to the team. In the early stages of this game his sweet left foot produced wonderful crosses that might, in fact should, have produced an early goal. After three minutes, a cross to the far post saw Luke Norris head back across the face of goal but Joe Quigley was only able to turn his shot wide of the upright.

Dartford went ahead in the 13th minute with a nightmare moment for Gillingham's number two goalkeeper, Tom Hadler. An overhit pass towards the box saw the ex-Tonbridge loanee scuff his clearance to Ryan Hayes who cleverly lifted the ball over the stranded Hadler and into the unguarded net from 30 yards.

Konchesky produced another great cross to the back post but Jake Hessenthaler's header was blocked.

Within the front two for Dartford was another ex-Tonbridge player from last season, Ellis Brown, trialling to earn a contract at Prince's Park. His work rate was good, but as with last season, his finishing lacked the killer touch.

Before the break, Deren Ibrahim in the Darts' goal, was called upon twice to make decent saves from Hessenthaler and Billy Knott.

Cody McDonald, an old favourite at Princes, was a second half substitute for Luke Norris and brought an early save from Ibrahim.

Gillingham's equaliser came from a well rehearsed source. Ryan Jackson's long throw into the box was met by the head of Emmanuel Osadebe who steered it into the far corner of the net.

Hadler made a good save with his legs before Gillingham went ahead after 65 minutes. Lee Martin fired in a low hard free kick towards the near post for Quigley to get across his marker and divert the ball into the net.

The final moments brought another positive for the visitor's in the shape of 16-year-old full back Henry Arnold who replaced Konchesky, at the other end of his career, for the last ten minutes. A superb link up with Knott ended with the youngster firing in a shot that Ibrahim had to be at his best to turn away to safety. It brought encouraging praise from Knott.