Gills Start With Defeat in Pre-Season

Gillingham started their pre-season friendly campaign today with a defeat, losing 1-0 at home to Stevenage Borough.

The game started brightly for the Gills as they dominated possession in the opening few minutes and created a few half chances, causing Stevenage a few early problems. The Gills could’ve then taken the lead on 11 minutes when Kevin Maher’s deflected shot forced Stevenage keeper James Russell to tip the ball over the bar and out for a corner.

Stevenage did have a few chances themselves, and had a great opportunity to break the deadlock when Iyseden Christie beat the offside trap and was lined up for a free header on goal, but the striker failed to latch onto the cross, relieving the Gills defenders after a poor mistake.

Minutes later, the Gills had their best opportunity of the half to take the lead, when Irishman Gary Mulligan headed down for Andrew Crofts to shoot, but the Wales midfielder failed to convert, hitting the post with his low strike.

The Gills came close once again, when on 36 minutes Simeon Jackson hit a low effort which was rebounded into the path of Andrew Crofts, but his chipped effort drifted just over the bar.

For the second half, both teams featured virtually new line-ups, with Gills bringing on youngsters such as Taylor Thomas, Andy Pugh and Rory Hill. Stevenage however chose a more experienced line-up in the second half, bringing on more senior players, including their top scorer last season, Steve Morison. There was also a debut for former Boro keeper Alan Julian, who signed for the Gills this summer, as well as a game for trialists Alex Bailey and Alistair John.

Stevenage started the game brighter, and created quite a few chances, which meant Gillingham could only create their first real chance of the second half on 49 minutes, after a good run by Dennis Oli down the right side teed up John Nutter a shot on goal, but the defender hit his shot wide of the Stevenage goal.

Stevenage then broke the deadlock, when on 54 minutes, Boro’s star striker Steve Morison was put through on goal, and made no mistake by chipping the advancing Julian to give his side the lead. The goal saw Stevenage grow in confidence, as they created several more chances, and came close on 64 minutes through Anthony Thomas.

Gillingham had a few opportunities to equalise later on in the game, when on 71 minutes, youngster Rory Hill hit a shot on goal after being first to react to a cleared corner, but his shot was straight at Boro keeper Ashley Bayes. Hill then had another chance to score with a low shot to the right of the goal on 81 minutes, but Bayes managed to turn it away to keep his side in the lead.

The Gills created a few more chances towards the end of the match, but just couldn’t find that equalising goal, and subsequently lost 1-0 in the opening game of their pre-season campaign.