The honours in this season’s “A2 derby” headed west again as Charlton Athletic netted two in two second half minutes to edge out Gillingham on a balmy night at Priestfield.
Following the weekend’s reverse to Millwall, the home faithful saw another stage in the build up to the real goal of course when the League Two season starts at Stockport County in eighteen days time and will have left boss Neil Harris still with many options to consider before the big kick off on August 5th.
The game itself was a decent pre season contest with the visitors out of the blocks sharply as they took the lead inside the opening sixty seconds as Tyreece Campbell raced onto a through ball before slotting the ball past the advancing Glenn Morris and into the net.
Harris will though have been pleased with the way his side responded as Tom Nichols went close with a header from a Scott Malone cross, before Charlton keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer brilliantly denied Nichols with a super save from the striker’s shot on the turn.
It was developing into a terrific contest between the two and again the Charlton keeper again did well to deny the Gills striker and his defence was able to help him out as they denied George Lapslie with the follow up.
The goal the home side deserved arrived just on the half hour and what a great first Gillingham goal at Priestfield in 2023/2024 it was – Will Wright curling a gem of a free kick into the top corner after the hard working Nichols had been pulled back.
Honours even at the break was just about right but the break seemed to knock the Gills out of their stride and the visitors soon scored twice inside two minutes to break free – Corey Blackett-Taylor pounced on a loose ball to put Charlton back in front before Morris brilliantly kept out George Dobson’s effort only for Jack Payne to prod home the rebound.
Gillingham never really got going after the break and indeed but for a brilliant penalty save from Morris to deny the striker a lot of the Rainham End had hope to see in Gills blue this season – Alfie May – the Addicks’ victory would have been more.
After the game it was confirmed that Gillingham have signed Shadrach Ogie from Leyton Orient. The 21 year old defender joins for an undisclosed fee.
GILLINGHAM – Morris (Turner 65), McKenzie (Orji 71), Wright, Masterson (Ehmer 71), Malone (Clark 65), S Williams (Dieng 65), Coleman, Jefferies (Chambers 71), J Williams (Clarke 71), Lapslie (Gbode 71), Nichols (Sithole 71).
Unused subs: Giles, Gale.
CHARLTON – Maynard-Brewer, Thomas, Dobson, Campbell, Blackett-Taylor, Mitchell, Elerewe, Asiimwe, Anderson, Payne, May.
Subs: Isted, Ness, Jaiyesimi, Fraser, Kirk, Henry, McGrandles, Egbo, Kanu, Bakrin, Roddy.
Referee: Mr Ward
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.