Gillingham 1 Heart of Midlothian 2
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Mark McCammon goes in for a header with Mark
Bentley Pic: Peter
Still
by Luke Cawdell
Luke Rooney took his pre-season goal tally to seven but
Gillingham were beaten in a well-contested friendly at
Priestfield.
Scottish Premier Division side Hearts named a
strong side for the match but League 2 Gills were a decent
match.
Boss Andy Hessenthaler gave new signing
Adebayo Akinfenwa (pictured, right) his first run-out in
Gillingham colours as he came on midway through the second half
with Mark McCammon.
Gillingham had a first-half penalty appeal
turned down when it looked as though Andy Barcham had been clipped
from behind by Lee Wallace, after the winger had beaten him inside
the area, but referee Gavin Ward waved play-on.
The Gills had the better of the first half
efforts and in-form Chris Palmer nearly scored from outside the
area. A great run was followed by a dipping shot that went narrowly
over.
Hearts defender Darren Barr had to clear off
his own line before the break, following a deflection off one of
their own players, but the scores remained goalless at the
break.
That changed with just four minutes of the
second half gone. Ismael Bouzid felled the lively Stefan Payne in
the area and Rooney smashed the penalty high into the net past
keeper Janos Balogh.
Just two minutes later though Hearts levelled
when Ryan Stevenson found Arvydas Novikovas and the forward
finished with a low shot past Alan Julian.
With six minutes left Hearts won the game with
a header from Bouzid as he converted David Templeton’s corner.
Gillingham fans got a glimpse of trialist
Stanley Aborah once more and he showed some nice foot-work in the
middle of the field.
Gillingham: Julian (Cronin
80mins), Sinclair, Nutter (Lough 72mins), Gowling, Bentley,
J Payne (Maher 46mins), Weston (Rooney 46mins), Palmer
(Jackman 61mins), Spiller (Aborah 61mins), S Payne (Akinfenwa
65mins), Barcham (McCammon 65mins). Subs not used: White,
Essam.
Attendance: 2,359.
Are you pleased with Gillingham's pre-season so far?
Comment below.
Thursday, July 29 2010
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