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Gillingham play Tonbridge Angels in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup at Longmead Stadium

Gillingham are set to give two of their new signings a first run-out tonight in the Kent Senior Cup.

Midfielders Ethan Coleman and Jayden Clarke have yet to play since they were signed a fortnight ago.

Midfielder Ethan Coleman in action for former side Kings Lynn against Tonbridge Angels Picture: Tim Smith
Midfielder Ethan Coleman in action for former side Kings Lynn against Tonbridge Angels Picture: Tim Smith

Manager Neil Harris wants to ease the pair in at Gillingham and a second round county cup tie at Tonbridge Angels could be just the occasion.

Coleman joined from Leyton Orient after a loan spell with National League Bromley during the first half of this season while Clarke has arrived from National South Dulwich Hamlet.

Harris plans to be at the game but will be taking a back seat as he oversees the final hours of the transfer window. The deadline for signing contracted players passes at 11pm tonight (Tuesday).

Gillingham received a bye in the first round of the county competition and have struggled to find a date to play Tonbridge. The pair will meet for a place in the quarter-finals away to Ramsgate.

This year’s final will be played at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium.

While Coleman and Clarke are expected to feature, Harris says other senior players could also get a run-out, but he won’t take any risks on an artificial surface.

He said: “We are not going to take some of the more experienced players who have had injuries on 4G, so there will be a youthful element to it as well but I do want players to get minutes. I expect to see Jayden Clarke and Ethan Coleman in particular.

“I am not knocking 4G at all, I fully respect it, it is great business, but you have to use it regularly as players to get used to it.

Jayden Clarke has signed for Gillingham from Dulwich Hamlet
Jayden Clarke has signed for Gillingham from Dulwich Hamlet

“There will be a strong group that goes but some players won’t be able to do it because of ligament damage in the past, ankles, knees or backs, and you have to be careful in a one off and that was the case during the freeze where we had to be careful with training on the 4G.

“I will use it as an exercise to send senior players to get minutes but also to couple senior players with youngsters that we have got high hopes for and I want to look at in a senior environment as we look to make contract decisions for the YTS players.”

Angels boss Jay Saunders said: “I am looking forward to it. With the amount of signings they have made I am sure a few of their boys aren’t getting minutes so I am sure they will bring a strong side.

“It’s one we are looking forward to. We will put a strong side out, we haven’t got a massive squad and we will have a real good go at it. It will be a good test, a test for the younger boys and one the experience boys will enjoy.”

*Cash and cards are accepted on the turnstiles at Tonbridge with gates open at 6pm. Gills fans are welcome in the Angels Sports Bar. Admission is £10 for adults, £5 concessions, £3 for 12-17 year-olds and free for under-12s. Under-15s must be accompanied by a ticket-buying adult.

*Kent Senior Cup quarter-final draw: Margate v Cray Valley, Chatham v Corinthian, Ebbsfleet United or Dartford v Welling United, Ramsgate v Tonbridge Angels or Gillingham.

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