Gillingham got their pre-season off to the perfect start as they narrowly beat a determined Dartford side at Princes Park on Saturday afternoon.

New signing Ben Strevens came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute to give Martin Allen’s side their first win in front of fans for the summer.

Gillingham handed a debut to new signing Stuart Nelson in goal with trialists Dean Morgan and Damian Reeves handed places in the starting eleven.

The rest of the Gillingham side had a familiar look to it, although Charlie Lee was handed the captain’s armband despite Andy Frampton playing in defence.

As for Dartford, their side was made up of most of the squad that played the Conference South play-off final win over Welling United, although former Gills defender Tony Sinclair was handed a start whilst on trial at Princes Park.

The game started off in lively fashion with both teams eager to impress, with Morgan testing Darts keeper Louis Wells early on, with Morgan coming close to breaking the deadlock not long after with his curling effort destined for the top corner, only for the keeper to claw it away around the post.

Damian Reeves had an excellent chance to open his account for The Gills when he latched on to Nelson’s long punt forward, but he stumbled at the wrong moment and the keeper was out to smother his stab at goal.

Dartford tested Nelson on seventeen minutes when the ball fell kindly to Lee Burns, but he couldn’t execute enough power in his strike and The Gills keeper was able to save comfortably.

At the other end, Chris Whelpdale looked to dink the ball over Wells only to see it sail harmlessly over the bar too.

Dartford had an appeal for a penalty waved away by Andy D’Urso halfway through the half with Reeves narrowly missing the target from Barry Fuller’s cross at the other end.

Gillingham made their first change on the half hour mark as Chris Whelpdale was withdrawn to be replaced by Bradley Dack and it seemed to disjoint them slightly as it was the home side that finished the half stronger.

Lee Burns, James Rogers, Adam Green and Elliot Bradbrook all had half chances for the Darts as the half wore on, but none of them really troubled Nelson in the Gills goal.

The Darts made four changes at the break, introducing former Dover Athletic striker Donovan Simmonds amongst others, but it failed to give them the spark they needed and it was The Gills that started to exert some control on the game.

Connor Essam, who spent a spell on loan with Dartford rose to meet Charlie Lee’s corner, but he headed just wide of the target.

Rogers was just as guilty at the other end as both sides failed to make the most of some good build up play.

On the hour mark ,there was the strange situation of Gillingham making eleven changes, bringing their total used for the game up to twenty three.

The only one on the bench that didn’t get a game was Martin Allen’s dog Monty who sat their quietly as everything happened around him!

Just eight minutes after coming on, the ever lively Adam Birchall got a shot off that Wells did well to smother, with Allen complimenting the striker who he calls “sweetheart” by saying it was his first shot in a year.

The deadlock was finally broken on 73 minutes when Birchall’s cross found Matt “Fishfingers” Fish on the right and he picked out Strevens at the back post and despite Wells clawing away his first effort, the new signing was on hand to turn the ball home at the second attempt.

As the clock wound down, Gillingham began to dominate possession with new signing Charlie Allen looking comfortable alongside trialist Ryan Gilligan with Jack Payne sitting in front of the defence despite being linked with a move to Premier League side Reading.

There was still time for Birchall to show his prowess, but his attempted lob of Wells went just over the keeper and the bar, whilst his late scissor kicked effort went just wide of the target.

In the end, it was The Gills that were the victors, but Dartford can go away happy knowing they kept their League opponents to just one goal in what will be easily forgotten as an encounter, but will put mileage in the legs of the players for the season ahead.

 

FULL TIME: DARTFORD 0-1 GILLINGHAM

Dartford line up: Wells (Sutton 87), Burns (Muggeridge 72), Green (Porter 83), Bonner, Sinclair (Hayes H/T), Champion (Sawyer 87), Collier (Church H/T), Rogers (Monger 87), Erskine (Simmonds H/T), Bradbrook (Wallis 60), Harris (Daly H/T).

Subs not used: Monger, Sawyer, Sutton.

Gillingham line up: Nelson, Fuller, Martin, Lee, Frampton, Essam, Whelpdale (Dack 36), Montrose, Kedwell, Reeves, Morgan.

Gills side after 60 minutes: Hawkes, Fish, Evans, Hare, Davies, Payne, Allen, Gilligan, Jackman, Strevens, Birchall.

Goal: Strevens (73).

Referee: Mr Andy D’Urso

Attendance: 1,049