Bradley Dack scores three as Gillingham beat Dagenham & Redbridge for the second time in four days
Gills attack with Dack (left) and Birchall at
Priestfield Pic: Barry
Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Bradley Dack helped himself to a
hat-trick of goals as Gillingham’s reserves beat a strong Dagenham
team 3-1 in a practice game at Priestfield.
Gills boss Martin Allen handed starts to
most of the players who haven’t had much time on the pitch of late,
while the Daggers did likewise.
The visitors – who were beaten 2-1 at
Priestfield in League 2 on Saturday – included former Gills player
Kevin Maher in their line-up.
Allen took charge from the sidelines and
watched as Dack netted twice in two minutes midway through the
first half, with striker Adam Birchall playing a key role in
both.
Gillingham nearly went behind early on as
Steve Gregory headed against his own crossbar.
The opening goal saw new signing Michael
Richardson head down Birchall’s cross, after a great move down the
right flank, involving youngster Mahlon Romeo. Dack pounced to
crash the shot home.
And
moments later another cross from Birchall found its way to Dack and
he drove a low shot past the Daggers keeper Matthew Allick.
Only a good save from Allick before the
break prevented Birchall from adding his name to the
scoresheet.
As well as Richardson, the Gills also gave
a start to Fulham’s Ryan Williams (left) – a recent loan
arrival – and he almost found the target early in the game from a
good ball in from Alfie Coates.
Young Dagenham player Jake Reed pulled one
back for the visitors before the break but Dack had the final say,
in the second half, as he tapped home his third after Richardson’s
header had bounced kindly into his path off the woodwork.
Gillingham: Forecast
(Nalder 65mins), Romeo (Millbank 32mins), Coates (Carter 80mins),
Staunton (Freiter 65mins), Davies (Sellens 65mins), Gregory
(Butcher 65mins), Dack (Blanchard 65mins), Richardson (Haysman
65mins), Williams (Humber 65mins), Webster (Grant 87mins), Birchall
(Nyafli 65mins).
19/02/13
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