Dover Athletic 1 Gillingham 2

Match 07/12/960 - Tuesday, 31 July 2012 - Pre-Season Friendly

Dover Athletic (0) 1 Willock 57
Gillingham (2) 2 Jackman 11, Birchall 42
Att. 825

Entrance: £10 Senior
Programme: None Produced
Mileage: 93/287

Match Report

Adam Birchall led his team out at Crabble last night, scored a goal and made it through his first 90 minutes since his injury last pre-season. He received a warm reception on his old stomping ground and scored his goal a couple of minutes before the half time break after Connor Essam’s header from a corner had been cleared from the line, the striker fired the clearance through the crowded penalty area and into the centre of the goal.

As with the Ebbsfleet fixture, Martin Allen announced his side two days before the match with a second eleven getting 90 minutes into their legs. Two French trialists were included, the central defender Itoua, who had played at Stonebridge Road and a right back, simply known as Mikael, who I thought had a reasonably good first half and was rather surprised to see him replaced at half time. As the second half progressed, several of the youth team were introduced.

In the opening exchanges, Dean Rance, released by Gillingham this summer, had an opening effort that didn’t trouble Tommy Forecast before Danny Jackman opened the scoring for the visitors. Lewis Montrose, who looked very busy in midfield, passed to Jackman who from 20 yards fired in off the right hand post.

Midway through the half Martin Allen appeared on the touchline on the opposite side of the pitch to the dugouts and was constantly barking out orders with his son, Charlie, the closest and therefore the subject of much of his berating. Too slow in the middle of pitch appeared to be his consistent concern and Move, Move almost becoming a chant. His presence was quite intimidating and, if I was a Gillingham player, I wouldn’t want to cross him!

Four changes were made at half-time, both trialists departed along with Andy Frampton and Ashley Miller. Twelve minutes into the second half Dover pulled a goal back when a looping header from Callum Willock dropped into the corner of the net with Forecast stranded. It was a set piece that wasn’t defended and I’m sure Allen, back in the dugouts, would have been pretty annoyed.

Jack Payne, only made it to the hour mark, being behind everybody else in fitness having missed the trip to France. In the closing minutes, Essam turned an ankle and very painfully hobbled to the sidelines leaving Forecast, Jackman, Birchall and Allen to be the four that completed the 90 minutes.

On the walk from the gates of the Crabble grounds a very steep hill is encountered, a golf buggy is employed to take the less abled up the hill. On this occasion, I decided, for the first time to sit along the side rather than stand behind the goals and from there it is apparent just how much of a slope there is on the pitch heading back down the hill.

Martin Allen will be pleased that, at all levels, Gillingham remained undefeated and this was a good work out against a Conference South side that might well make an impression on that division this season. It says much for their ambition that they have managed to prise Willock away from Ebbsfleet, a club a division higher. Time is counting down, there was one new signing made between the two games, Tom Flanagan, a young central defender from MK Dons. In the mind’s eye a first eleven can be envisaged but new arrivals could change that line-up between now and the League Cup game at Bristol City.