Will Goodwin capped off a fine team move as his first-half goal proved the difference in Gillingham’s 1-0 win against Millwall during Tuesday night’s friendly at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
The goal came in the 17th minute, starting with a Lennon MacLorg long pass forward, which was flicked on by Goodwin. That allowed James Brophy to latch onto the ball in behind the Millwall defence, and he carried it towards the edge of the penalty area. He waited for the oncoming Nick Freeman on the overlap before releasing the ball. Freeman made his way into the right-hand side of the box before cutting it back for Goodwin, who slotted home from close range.
MacLorg started in goal for the Gills, while Omar Beckles and Liam Gordon were at the heart of the defence. Ronan Hale and Will Goodwin came into the line-up, having missed Saturday’s friendly against Charlton as a precaution.
In the fourth minute, Lukas Jensen produced a fine double save. Hale won the ball high up the pitch before carrying it towards the edge of the penalty area and directing a shot towards the bottom left corner, which Jensen did well to get down and save. However, the rebound sat nicely for the oncoming Goodwin, but the Millwall goalkeeper recovered in time to get across and save the second attempt.
A Millwall corner caused the Gills some panic, as Mathis Servais’ delivery found Jake Cooper at the back post. He headed it back across the goal, but there were Gillingham players on hand to deal with the danger, as they cleared their lines.
Goodwin gave Gillingham the lead on 17 minutes. MacLorg sent the ball downfield, which found Goodwin, who flicked the ball in behind for Brophy to latch onto. He carried the ball towards the penalty area, awaiting the overlapping run of Nick Freeman before releasing the ball. Freeman entered the box before cutting it back for Goodwin to slot home from close range, despite the best efforts of the defender on the goal line.
Jensen was on hand to prevent the hosts from doubling their advantage after some brave goalkeeping. Hale capitalised on a loose ball inside the box and appeared to have a clear path to goal until the goalkeeper quickly rushed off his line to close him down before getting down and taking the ball away from the Northern Ireland international’s feet.
In the 34th minute, Josh Coburn had a good opportunity to equalise. The Millwall forward had the ball inside the box and was able to shift it onto his left foot before getting a low drive away. Fortunately, it lacked the power to test MacLorg, who got down to gather.
MacLorg pulled off a great save to deny Servais on the stroke of half-time. The Millwall man received the ball in space, which allowed him to enter the box unchallenged. He moved the ball onto his left foot before stroking the ball towards the far corner. However, MacLorg was equal to it, getting a strong hand onto the ball before the hosts cleared their lines.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Millwall
Gills made three changes at the break, as Sam Gale, Louie Dayal and Seb Palmer-Houlden replaced Kadeem Harris, Hale and Goodwin.
Meanwhile, the visitors made ten changes at half-time, with Jensen being the only player to remain on the pitch. Former Gills loanee Elkan Baggott started the second half for ‘The Lions’.
Palmer-Houlden’s hard work was nearly rewarded in the 54th minute. Jensen had the ball at his feet inside the box and was waiting for options to become available. However, Palmer-Houlden was quick to apply pressure and blocked the Millwall goalkeeper’s attempted clearance, with the ball going just wide of the target.
The hosts made more changes on the hour, as the likes of Nelson Khumbeni, Sully Booth and Harry Waldock entered the game.
Sheldon Kendall tried his luck from distance in the 69th minute, but his attempt fizzed wide of the bottom right corner.
A last-ditch piece of defending prevented the visitors from equalising late on. Mark Sykes got in down the left-hand side of the box before squaring the ball into the six-yard box. However, Gale was on hand, producing a fantastic sliding clearance to intercept the pass.
Kendall did well to get a shot away in the 87th minute. The Millwall man was being tightly followed by Logan Dobbs, but did well to create the space to get a shot away. He sent a low drive towards the far left corner, but MacLorg was equal to it, pushing it away.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Millwall
Gillingham: MacLorg, Smith, Beckles, Gordon, Freeman, McKenzie, Albarus, Hale (Dayal 46’), Brophy, Harris (Gale 46’), Goodwin (Palmer-Houlden 46’)
Gillingham after 60 minutes: MacLorg (Trialist 88’), Webster, Gale, Dobbs, Khumbeni, Luxton, Waldock, Dayal, Booth, Theodore, Palmer-Houlden
Unused Substitutes: Beszant, Whitelock
Millwall first-half: Jensen, Cooper, Servais, Azeez, Leonard, Coburn, Cundle, Bangura-Willians, Taylor, Doughty, Mazou-Sacko
Millwall second -half: Jensen, Neghli, Baggott, Metcalfe, Sykes, Grant, Matthews, Lovelace, Lamptey, Kendall, Massey
Unused Substitutes: Coleman, Beaumont, Kirby, Mansor, Tsuguta Vieira, Redhead
Referee: Isaac Searle
Attendance: 3650 (1800)
