Shadrach Ogie’s first Gillingham goal ensured that pre-season 2023 ended on a positive note as National League side Dagenham & Redbridge were beaten by the only goal. 

The Daggers of course took Neil Harris’ side to a FA Cup replay last season and this mixed Gills side needed all their experience to edge past their non-league opponents as pre-season came to an end. 

The game’s only goal arrived when former Gill Josh Hare headed Max Clark’s free kick towards his own goal and as the keeper did well to keep the own goal out, Ogie reacted quicker than anyone else to head home. 

There were lots of familiar faces in the home side, the latest being Jake Hessenthaler following his recent departure from Crawley Town. 

Home keeper Eliott Justham made a great save to deny Tim Dieng and debutant Ashley Nadesan could only hook the rebound over the bar.

Tom Nichols went close with a header before the home side were indebted to Justham for keeping the half time scoreline blank as the keeper denied Dom Jefferies with a smart save with his legs. 

The home side introduced a fifth former Gill to the action at the break in Myles Weston and Jake Turner had to be on his toes to keep out a vicious in swinging corner from Weston, before the game’s only goal came on fifty two minutes – Clark’s free kick was helped on by Hare forcing his keeper into a fine save but Ogie was first on hand to head the ball home. 

Nichols combined well with Scott Malone only for Dieng to fire too high, whilst Turner denied a home trialist with a superb full length save and when Frank Vincent’s late drive was also brilliantly kept out by Turner the win was secured, and all attentions can now turn to Edgeley Park and the trip to Stockport County in seven days time to kick off quite possibly the most eagerly awaited season of Gills football in some considerable time. 

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE – Justham, Hare, Eastman, Hessenthaler, Vincent, Rees (Ibie H/T), Effiong (Blair 79), Page, Phipps (Kendall 68), Ling (Weston H/T), Trialist .

Subs not used – Strizovic, Tavares .

GILLINGHAM – Turner, Alexander, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark (McKenzie 65), Coleman, Dieng, Jefferies (Lapslie 79), Clarke (Malone 65), Nichols (Gbode 89), Nadesan.

Subs not used – Morris, Chambers.

Goal: Ogie (52).

Booked: Malone (76), Nichols (84).

Attendance: 579

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.