Gillingham continued their pre-season programme with a battling encounter against Bishops Stortford of the Blue Square South. Mark Stimson will be pleased with the performance of his starting line-up but a nasty ankle injury sustained by Stuart Lewis midway through the first half was a high price to pay.
The game started in frantic fashion with no quarter given by either side at a blustery Woodside Park before Gillingham took an early lead from their first sight of goal in the ninth minute. Curtis Weston's incisive through ball sent Dennis Oli clear on the left side of the box and he finished neatly with a classy shot high to the keeper's right.
Soon after Stuart Lewis chanced his arm with a low drive from 25 yards which Nicky Eyre in the Bishops goal was grateful to gather low at his right hand post.
The home side equalised in stunning fashion in the 27th minute after Barry Fuller had brought down winger Ola Okinawwo en route to goal. Mark Wright stepped up and thundered his free kick into the roof of the net.
At the opposite end Curtis Weston went close with a curling strike the drifted wide of the left hand upright before things took a turn for the worse for the visitors.
In the 33rd minute a collision between Lewis and Okinawwo on the edge of the home sides penalty area left the Gills midfielder writhing in agony. After three minutes treatment Lewis was helped to the touchline before being carried down the tunnel on a stretcher to be replaced by Adam Miller.
On the stroke of half time the Gills regained the lead. Kevin Maher lofted a deep free kick to Barcham on the left wing. He delivered an excellent cross which was guided home by substitute Adam Miller. Sadly for the visitors it would prove to be Miller's last contribution to the match as he limped off to be replaced at half time by Mark McCammon
HT 2-1
Mark Stimson shuffled his pack in the second half with McCammon joining Oli up front in a more conventional 4-4-2 formation. Bishop Stortford meanwhile made wholesale changes and lacked some of their attacking threat after the restart.
That said it was the home side who mustered the first chance of note with Duane Jackman firing in a shot on the turn after 55 minutes which Alan Julian did well to parry to safety
Shortly after the hour mark Chris Palmer held off his marker on the right of the home area and struck a neat shot that Hussain reacted well to block.
On 65 minutes a surging run from Barry Fuller found Curtis Weston unmarked in the penalty box but his low drive was superbly cut out by Bishops Stortford centre half Tom Champion.
In the 78th minute Gillingham struck again after Luke Rooney was felled just outside the area. The young midfielder picked himself up and struck a blistering free kick into the top right corner for his fourth goal in five pre-season appearances.
In the final minute the Gills should have made it four, after Luke Rooney crossed from the right and McCammon's shot was only partially cleared. Andy Barcham pounced on the loose ball but placed his effort inches wide of the far post.
Gillingham: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, Josh Gowling (68 Tom Wynter), Simon King (59 Garry Richards), John Nutter, Stuart Lewis (36 Adam Miller, 46 Mark McCammon), Kevin Maher, Curtis Weston, Chris Palmer (68 Luke Rooney), Dennis Oli (73 Luis Cumbers), Andy Barcham.
Subs not used: Simon Royce, Andy Pugh.
Bishops Stortford 1st Half: Nicky Eyre, Matt Jones, Mark Wright, Stevland Angus, Paul Goodacre, Ashley Nicholls, Rory Hill, Reece Prestedge, Leon McKenzie, Charlie Sheringham, Ola Okinawwo.
Bishops Stortford 2nd Half: Nerj Hussain, Ritchie Jones, Dave Chick, Stevland Angus, Tom Champion, Lai Bas Lettejallow, Richard Howell, Ben Bowditch, Duane Jackman, Roy Essandoh (71 Danny Harris), Charlie Simpson.
