Gills draw 1-1 with Ipswich

A crowd of 1,374 saw Gillingham’s best starting eleven draw 1-1 in the fourth match of their pre-season friendly campaign, against an Ipswich Town XI. 

Manager Mark Stimson said before tonight’s game that he was going to play his best starting eleven, but it was Ipswich who started brighter as they dominated possession and created a few opportunities, showing their Championship quality. This meant Gillingham could only make their first real chance of the game on 6 minutes, when striker Gary Mulligan headed over from an Adam Miller cross.

The Gills then had another chance on 10 minutes when a shot from a free kick went just wide after Adam Miller was fouled following a good run with the ball.

Andrew Crofts was next to try and test the Ipswich goal on 17 minutes, but the Wales midfielder hit his long-range shot over the bar, troubling neither the Ipswich goalkeeper or the defence.

However, Crofts came closer with a second attempt on 21 minutes that hit the woodwork, when he saw his shot beat Ipswich keeper Richard Wright but not the post, as Gillingham started to press on for the opening goal.

Ispwich were the next team to try their luck on goal, when striker Jonathan Walters created something out of nothing, hitting a powerful shot which forced the acrobatics from Simon Royce in order to keep the scores level.

Gillingham had another good chance on 33 minutes when Dennis Oli showed his strength and persistence, making a good run into the box and then creating a chance for striker partner Simeon Jackson, but the Canadian forward hit his shot wide.

It wasn’t long however until the Gills broke the deadlock, when on 38 minutes, the so far impressive Simeon Jackson put the Gills ahead after hitting a low effort that drifted in past keeper Richard Wright, following a lay-off from strike-partner Gary Mulligan.

Rather unlike the previous three friendlies, there was only one change at half-time for the Gills, as Nicky Southall came on in place of Gary Mulligan.

The second half started rather slowly, with neither side creating any clear opportunities. However it was visitors Ipswich who did create the first real opportunity of the second half, when on 55 minutes Jonathan Walters crossed in from the left for striker Pablo Counago, but the Spaniard failed to find the target as hit his effort against the side netting. 

Gillingham came close themselves a few minutes later when club captain Mark Bentley saw a powerful volley go just over the bar.

The visitors then equalised on 62 minutes when striker Danny Haynes was awarded a penalty after being felled in the box by Gills defender Simon King. Town midfielder Tommy Miller stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slotted home, sending keeper Simon Royce the wrong way.

Ipswich could’ve then took the lead on 69 minutes, when Town’s new Dutch signing Pim Balkestein beat Simeon Jackson to a loose ball and hit a fierce goal bound effort which required quick reactions from Simon Royce in order to keep the score tied.

Few chances were created in the latter stages of the game, and both sides made multiple changes, with Gills’ Sean Clohessy coming on for midfielder Adam Miller, who was forced to depart on 83 minutes with what looked to be an arm injury.

In the end it finished 1-1, with the Gills receiving a big ovation from the 1,300 strong home crowd, who will be just pleased as manager Mark Stimson by the good performance today from the Gills, against a tough Championship opposition who brought along some of their best players to the krbs Priestfield Stadium.