Gills dominated much of the proceedings at Ebbsfleet but slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Kuflink Stadium in a pre-season friendly.
Lennon Peake and Dom Samuel had put the hosts two up before Joe Gbode’s excellent solo effort reduced the deficit. The visitors applied heavy pressure in the closing stages but Josh Wright’s men held out for the win.
Gareth Ainsworth named Josh Andrews up front from the start with Marcus Wyllie and Elliott Nevitt for company. Nelson Khumbeni and Jonny Williams were in the middle with Logan Dobbs at centre-half.
The hosts featured some familiar names in Dom Samuel, Jake Hessenthaler and Max Ehmer.
Gills started the brighter of the two teams and had a couple of early chances; the first falling for Ethan Coleman who headed Williams’ cross wide of the post before Khumbeni forced a fine stop from Gio Bellagambi in the Fleet goal.
On 11 minutes Wyllie was put through on goal by Nevitt following a fine attacking header from Andrews. Wyllie went one-on-one with Bellagambi and saw his powerful shot saved by the Fleet keeper.
Eight minutes later and the keeper was alert to deny Coleman. Trialist had done well to win possession deep into opposition territory and found the midfielder to his inside. Ethan decided to shoot but Bellagambi was equal to it.
The hosts took the lead against the run of play on 23 minutes when Aaron Cosgrave played a neat pass down the left wing for Lennon Peake; the forward drove into the penalty area and shot across Turner. The effort took a slight deflection before nestling into the corner.
Samuel had a chance to add a second shortly after following good work from Peake, but Turner was equal to his shot. On 31 minutes, George Moncur tried to take advantage of Coleman’s back pass which lacked pace, but Turner read the situation well and stayed on his feet to deny an attempted chipped effort.
Gills went close twice in quick succession as the half came to a close. Nevitt crossed from the right and Ehmer did his best to clear for a corner but didn’t make clear contact. Andrews was running in behind, perhaps not expecting the opportunity, and fired wide as a result before Wyllie’s attempts to lob Bellagambi, following a poor clearance from the keeper, was sent inches over the bar.
H/T: Ebbsfleet United 1-0 Gillingham
Gills continued to boss proceedings early in the second half and struck the post on 58 minutes when Jack Nolan’s free-kick was directed towards the opposite corner.
Bellagambi got the smallest of touches on it to deny the goal before the defence managed to clear.
On 65 minutes Gills went just as close when Williams’ free-kick was sent into the danger zone and Ogie got up well; his header came back off the woodwork before McKenzie’s follow up was struck into the ground and also went narrowly over.
Nolan went close again shortly after but his left footed effort went inches beyond the far post.
Ebbsfleet were awarded a penalty on 74 minutes for a foul inside the box, and Dom Samuel stepped up to send a shot straight down the middle and double the hosts advantage.
This would last just five minutes though when Little’s ball over the top down the left gave something for Gbode to chase. He did so, held the ball up and then a clever flick inside took two defenders out of the game. He then produced an excellent shot to find the bottom corner.
Gareth Ainsworth’s men applied heavy pressure in the closing minutes but Fleet held out for victory.
F/T: Ebbsfleet United 2-1 Gillingham
Fleet: Bellagambi, Olagunju, Ehmer, Peake, Passley (Kennedy 72), Manktelow (Dallison 57), Hessenthaler, Chapman, Moncur, Cosgrave (Coley 81), Samuel
Unused subs: Cousins, Anthony
Gills: Turner (Holtam 75), Webster (Hutton 63), Smith (Ogie HT), Dobbs (McKenzie HT), Trialist (Clark 63), Khumbeni (Gbode HT), Coleman (Little 75), Wyllie, Williams (Dack 75), Nevitt (Nolan HT), Andrews (Palmer-Houlden 63)
Unused subs: Waldock
Attendance: 916
