Gills played out a goalless draw at home to Reading in their second pre-season friendly at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Satuday afternoon.
Shad Ogie came the closest for the hosts when his header from Bradley Dack’s corner hit the underside of the crossbar. Dack himself went close, as did Conor Masterson, but the hosts were unable to find a way through.
Gareth Ainsworth named two XI’s for either half with Glenn Morris, Shad Ogie, Armani Little and Marcus Wyllie all starting the first 45. Seb Palmer-Houlden was also named in the first half side, as he made his first appearance at ME7.
The hosts started the game brightly, with Remeao Hutton’s passing causing the Reading defence issues. He played a lofted ball through for Palmer-Houlden, who had got in behind the visiting defence, but he could not bring the ball under his control and the goalkeeper gathered.
Moments later, Hutton played an excellent cross-field pass, finding Joe Gbode, who carried the ball into the box. The forward cut inside onto his right foot before fizzing a shot just wide of the far post.
In the 13th minute, Reading had the ball in the back of the net. Andre Garcia received the ball inside the penalty area after the visitors won possession near the Gillingham penalty area. Garcia blasted his shot past Morris at the near post, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Bradley Dack had a brilliant chance to give Gillingham the lead on 23 minutes. Hutton curled a cross towards the back post, which Wyllie met. He cut the ball back towards the penalty spot, which Dack ran onto. The midfielder got a left-footed shot away but could not keep his attempt down, and the shot cleared the crossbar.
Ogie came inches away from giving the hosts the lead. Dack floated a corner into the penalty area, and Ogie headed goalward. His attempt hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing back out and hitting a Reading defender. However, it did not trouble Joel Pereira in the visiting goal, and he gathered comfortably.
Moments later, Charlie Savage rattled the crossbar from around 12 yards out. Mamadi Camara brought the ball under control before laying it back to Savage to thump goalward from a central position. However, the linesman’s flag was raised for an offside against Camara.
Palmer-Houlden had a half-chance on the stroke of half-time after being played through by Little. The forward carried it until he was around 20 yards from goal, but could not make full contact with his attempt, as it proved comfortable for Pereira to gather.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 Reading
The hosts made 11 changes at the break. Jake Turner, Harry Webster, Andy Smith, Max Clark, Harry Waldock and Josh Andrews were some of the names that entered the game.
Basil Tuma nearly caused an issue for the Gills defence. Smith was trying to shield the ball out of play before Tuma got around him to prod the ball towards the goal. However, Turner and Smith had it covered as the ball ran out of play for a corner, which came to nothing.
Waldock, Andrews and Jack Nolan combined as the latter came close to opening the scoring. Waldock sent a long ball into the box, which Andrews flicked on into Nolan’s path. The wide man’s first touch was good, as he cut onto his right foot. Unfortunately, he could not hit the target as he bent his effort wide of the post.
In the 74th minute, Jeremiah Okine-Peters, who had come on minutes beforehand, had a good chance. Tuma brought the ball down the right before playing it inside to Okine-Peters. The Reading man brought the ball onto his left foot before curling a shot towards the far top corner. However, he could not keep his effort down and it went over the goal.
Sam Gale nearly had a chance to score a late winner when he raced forward from his position in central defence to be played through on goal by Andrews. Gale used his pace to carry the ball towards the penalty area before a visiting defender intervened to prevent him from getting into a shooting position, and the hosts had penalty appeals waved away.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 Reading
Gillingham first half: Morris, Hutton, Masterson, Ogie, Trialist, Little, McKenzie, Wyllie, Dack, Gbode, Palmer-Houlden
Gillingham second half: Turner, Webster, Gale, Smith, Clark, Coleman, Waldock, Theodore, Bridle, Nolan, Andrews
Unused Substitutes: Beszant, Luxton
Reading: Pereira (Stevens 66’), Abrefa (Trialist B 66’), Dorsett (Ryan 46’), Savage (Spencer 66’), Wing (Ahmed 66’), Burns (Trialist A 46’), O’Connor (Stickland 46’), O’Mahony (Tuma 46’), Camara (Osho 66’), Garcia (Borgnis 66’), Sackey (Okine-Peters 66’)
Referee: Harry Wager
Attendance: 1930 (384 away fans)
