Three second half goals continued Gillingham’s good pre-season beginnings against a Dartford side who more than held their own for the opening half.
After a first half in which both sides had chances, the Gills scored twice in the opening seven minutes of the second half – List heading home the first before drilling the second low past Darts keeper Ibrahim – before the scoring at least was rounded off by Parker’s shot for the edge of the box.
For Steve Lovell, games and contests like this continue to help the manager piece together the ever-changing jigsaw as August 4th approaches, whilst for the Darts new management duo of Jamie Coyle and Adam Flanagan the first half will have held out a lot of promise, whilst the second perhaps posed a lot more questions than they perhaps would have liked.
An even first half ended goal-less which in some ways highlighted what an attractive 45 minutes it was.
Twice Gills keeper Tom Hadler was forced into excellent early saves to deny firstly Wall and then Oyenuga, before Bradbrook’s rasping drive was beaten out by the keeper.
At the other end, Parrett, who was the half’s best player who displayed a calming influence not seen much in the Priestfield midfield last season, drew an excellent save out of Ibrahim before Ehmer thumped a header (from Parrett’s corner) against the home crossbar.
With a completely different eleven emerging for the Gills, it was a surprise when List opened the scoring within three minutes as he headed home Reilly’s cross.
It was 2-0 shortly after as List again got on the scoresheet with a low drive from the edge of the box as the “second-half” Gills looked to dominate their opponents.
It was nearly three nil after great interchange between Reilly, Parker and List saw Moussa fire agonisingly wide of the post before Parker sealed the win with a third – shooting beyond Darts sub keeper Nicholls from just outside the box.
Both sides move on in their respective pre-seasons – the Darts host Colchester United, whilst the Gills split between Ebbsfleet and Dover for their toughest examinations by far – but both sides will leave Princes Park tonight knowing a little more about their starting teams for 2018/2019
Dartford – Ibrahim, Hatton, Onyemah, Noble, Roast, Bonner, Greenhalgh, Bradbrook, Wall, Oyenuga, Murphy
Subs – Mensah, Nicholls, Cue, Sam-Yorke, Vint, Igahore, Fisher, Saad, Gillies, Fulton
Gillingham – first half – Hadler, Fuller, Simpson, Ehmer, Byrne, Charles-Cook. Rees, Zakuani, Parrett, Hanlan, Nash
Second half – Holy, O’Neill, Lacey, Omara, Garmston, Moussa, Bingham, Reilly, Stevenson, Parker, List
Picture supplied by Kent Pro Images