Croydon Athletic 0 Gillingham 0
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by Luke Cawdell
Garry Richards became the latest player to
return from injury as he made a second half appearance for
Gillingham in their penultimate pre-season match,
The Gills failed to get on the scoresheet in
the match, played at Sittingbourne’s Bourne Park, but they did come
close on numerous occasions,
The Ryman League, Premier Division newcomers,
managed by former Gills pair Tim O’Shea and Neil Smith, did little
to trouble keeper Lance Cronin but did give Gillingham a decent
test in their latest warm-up match.
Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler rested much of
the team which started the match against Hearts on Thursday and
gave some vital minutes to the rest of his squad members.
While there was a plus, with Richards
(pictured) returning to a Gillingham side for the first
time since April, when he injured his ankle at Millwall, it wasn’t
all good news.
Striker Andrew White limped off after 24
minutes with a hamstring strain, while Curtis Weston (ankle) and
Stefan Payne (deadleg) were rested as a precaution and sat out the
fixture.
With just 20 seconds gone Luke Rooney lobbed
an effort just over and trialist Stanley Aborah was only denied at
close range by a good save from keeper Mark Fox.
Rooney hit another shot just over on 37
minutes and just before the break Jason Norville, one of three
trialists in the Gills side, fired a shot against the bar.
Also playing once more for the Gills was
former Newcaslte youngster Darren Lough. He played the full 90
minutes at left-back, but looks unlikely to have his stay
extended.
Hessenthaler also handed youth player
Jack Evans a second half appearance at right-back, replacing
player/coach Nicky Southall.
There was still no place in the squad for Cody
McDonald. The striker has a bruised foot and is fighting to be
ready for the start of the season.
In the second half Gillingham should have had
a penalty when Jermey Williams pulled Norville down in the box and
the striker was in the thick of it again just past the hour, when
his header was cleared off the line by Joe Howe.
Croydon’s best effort came from former Gills
man Rory Hill, but his shot from distance was comfortably claimed
by Cronin.
Gills: Cronin, Southall
(Evans 73mins), Lough, Sinclair (Gowling 46mins), Essam (Richards
73mins), Maher (Bentley 66mins), Rooney, Jackman (Palmer 73mins),
Norville (Barcham 80mins), Aborah (Akinfenwa 66mins), White
(McCammon 24mins). Subs not used: Spiller, Nutter, Julian.
Attendance: 343.
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Saturday, July 31 2010
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