Dartford 0-1 Gillingham - It's a dream to be a Conference manager, says Dartford's Tony Burman

DARTFORD 0-1  GILLINGHAM
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 21^st July 2012
Paul Parkinson reports from Princes Park Stadium

An opportunistic strike in the second half from new signing Ben Strevens gave Martin Allen’s Gillingham victory against a Dartford side that pushed their League Two opponents all the way in the Kent sunshine this afternoon.

With both sides virtually fielding two separate teams during the match, Darts’ skipper Tom Bonner the only man to play the full 90 minutes, spectators would have been forgiven if they thought this would be little more than a training exercise. But, to be fair to those on show, both sides looked to attack and, especially in the first half, it was hard to see which was the League Two side and which the newcomers to the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier.

Gills’ boss Allen admitted: “I thought the players looked very tired in the first half. We really had a hard session on Friday which is all part of our training, so we can't be too disappointed with it and we almost expected a leggy performance today, but I thought there were 15 minutes after the break (they were always going to play an hour) where they really stepped up, which I thought was very encouraging.

“Then, the last 30 minutes, maybe with a less-experienced team, who although they had done the same training, played a different system and we looked a lot sharper, more passing, a lot more tenacious, better to watch and we scored the goal. To win the game, away from home with a clean sheet, was a bonus and I hope I’m saying that a lot more over the next eleven months.””

Gillingham almost caught their hosts’ cold within 14 seconds of the kick-off as Dean Morgan found himself in acres of space outside the area, but Louis Wells easily held his curling effort.

And Wells had to be alert after 9 minutes to deny Morgan again, pulling off the save of the match, flying high to his left to tip Morgan’s curling effort over the bar, after the winger had cut inside Lee Burns.

Another triallist, Damian Reeves had two quick opportunities, seeing Wells save low to his left from a shot inside the area, then being denied by a wonderful sliding block by Bonner as Reeves closed in on goal.

Chris Whelpdale then broke in behind the Dartford defence to latch onto Andy Frampton’s long ball, but could only clip his effort over the bar. This was to be Whelpdale’s last real involvement before limping from the field as Gillingham’s only enforced change.

Although Gillingham were creating the clear chances, a lot of the play belonged to Dartford, with Jacob Erskine and Danny Harris linking well, especially with their running in behind the full-backs, and Nathan Collier impressing on the right wing.

But, too often good build up play broke down on the edge of the Gillingham area, although a one touch move involving the three forward players released Burns for an effort that crept past the left hand post.

On 36 minutes, Adam Green fired a shot at goal that Stuart Nelson did well to turn round the post, after Erskine had outbattled Frampton on the edge of the box, then Elliot Bradbrook tried a long-range effort that the keeper was able to watch past his goal.

After the interval, Connor Essam, who was on loan at Princes Park last season before breaking into the Gillingham first team, headed over when unmarked inside the area, then James Rogers had a similar chance, outjumping Barry Fuller, to meet Ryan Hayes’ cross.

Lewis Montrose brought another good save out of Wells before Gillingham made 11 changes on the hour. Almost immediately, Adam Birchall showed the movement that brought him 40 goals in a season for Dover Athletic before his move to the Gills, by turning Bonner and firing a shot at goal that Wells handled at the second attempt.

Allen was full of praise for the returning forward, saying “Adam had half an hour against Dagenham on Wednesday, his first run-out, and the boys were delighted for him. He looked sharp today.

“It can be a long year when you are out that long, you’re worried, you’re tentative, not sure if the injury is going to hold up, but he had two efforts on goal, looking bright, and that is the Birchall I knew a couple of years ago. We’ll nurture him, bring him along slowly. He’s got a lovely attitude about him, so we’ve got to be patient and not rush him.””

And Birchall played a key role in Gillingham’s goal on 73 minutes, picking up Charlie Allen’s ball on the left wing. Birchall’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Matt Fish, arriving from right back, then, as Wells did well to push the ball away from Allen, who had continued his run, Strevens slid in to convert from inside the six-yard box.

The new Gills’ boss wasn’t surprised that his new signing had opened his account, adding, “Ben Strevens is always going to do that sort of stuff. He’s had promotions recently with Wycombe, so he’s got form, he’s got quality. I know Ben well, he’s a cool, calm character who has come in on a free transfer. The three new signings (also keeper Stuart Nelson and Charlie Allen) have all done well.”

Birchall saw another effort fly over the bar in the last 10 minutes, before replacement keeper Darren Hawkes did well to claim a Bonner header at the angle of post and bar from a Hayes’ corner.

But at the end of the day, today was about the preparation for each side’s challenges ahead, as both managers admitted after the game.

One of the positives for Gillingham that came out of the game was the performance of new goalkeeper Stuart Nelson, with Ross Flitney likely to be out of action for another month, and last season’s number one, Paulo Gazaniga, signing for  Premier League newcomers Southampton yesterday for an undisclosed fee.

Allen, though was realistic, saying “A lot of players left last year, some of them key players, so they need replacing. We also need to fill that gap between the good young players and the first team, but that will be up to the Chairman, it is his money!

“I’ll have a chat with some of the triallists today, Damian Reeves, Dean Morgan and Ryan Gilligan, to see where we are, but sometimes it’s nice when people who aren’t on your radar come along and we’ll see what we can do to help them.”

“We’ve got a lot of games coming thick and fast now, so we’ve got to get the players up to a fitness level and get them to tip-top shape for the start of the season. We’ve got a new physio and strength and conditioning coach in, a new doctor is starting next week, so the guys behind the scenes are working very hard to get the lads fitter and stronger.

“I’m not really looking at what has gone before (with a catalogue of pre-season injuries over the last few years), but the bottom line is that the staff guide me to help set the training levels so hopefully we don’t get as many injuries. We’re trying to make it as professional as we can and the players have been very receptive to it.””

Allen was forthcoming about the task ahead, adding, “The chairman is ambitious, so he, Hessy (director of football Andy Hessenthaler) and I are working together all the time to get some more players in. I respect them and am working alongside them, but I work for them and they’ve been really good to me in my time here. They let me get on with my job, have given me the bottom line on transfers, which is a bonus. They have their opinion, thankfully we are singing off the same songsheet, but they let me get on with it because at the end of the day, it is my responsibility.””

For Dartford, preparing for their first season at the highest level of non-league football since 1985-86 (when Tony Burman was the club’s leading goalscorer), the most pleasing aspect would be the style of football played that caused problems all day for the visitor’s defence, albeit not creating the chances they may have expected.

Burman was full of praise for the visitors, and said he was “very pleased, it was a great workout for us. Pleased with the performance; I didn’t want us to lose, but that is not the be-all and end-all, it’s about the organisation and I think we showed that for a good 60-70 minutes.”

“Our fitness is improving, obviously we are part-time, but we’ve got to play teams like Gillingham and those over the next 3-4 massive games working on the fitness. I’ve told the guys in there that we’ve improved the organisation, as we wanted, and these games against full-time teams are going to be tough.

“Most of the sides in the league we are going into are full-time, so we’ve got to get our fitness, be sharper, and it is a great test for us. Other teams may be fitter, but we’ll do our best to get close to them, and if we can’t be as fit, then we’ve got to be more organised.”

“I can’t thank Gillingham enough for coming here to play us, but we’re going to be playing against teams who are full-time and are at Gillingham’s level. It’s a big test, a massive task ahead, but we’re looking forward to it.

“We know what our targets will be, so if we can get organised and grow into the league, I’ll be delighted. Good starts are important, but the season is not a sprint, so if we get a run going in the season we’ll look to get points from it.””

Looking at the squad for the coming season, Burman admitted, “It’s a different ball game this year. We’ve got a couple of triallists at the moment, but we’re not desperate for new players. There may be players becoming available before the season starts, possibly with other clubs at the moment, but if it doesn’t work out for them then there are opportunities.

“I’m delighted so many of last year’s team have signed on. I want to give them the opportunity, but I do want to add to the squad and I’ve talked to players who I never dreamed we would talk to. They’ve come to see us, they know who we are now, who I am, and they might come back.””

When asked about how far the club had come under his guidance, Burman acknowledged: “It is a dream come true, a Conference manager, and if we can continue breaking records then there won’t be anyone happier than me. We said we had a ten-year plan and we’ve made it this far in six.”

Dartford:  Louis Wells (Steve Sutton 87), Lee Burns (Harry Muggeridge 72), Adam Green (Joe Porter 83), Tom Bonner, Tony Sinclair (Anthony Church 46), Tom Champion (Ryan Sawyer 87), Nathan Collier (Ryan Hayes 46), James Rogers (George Monger 87), Jacob Erskine (Donovan Simmonds 46), Elliot Bradbrook (Jon Wallis 60), Danny Harris (Ian Daly 46).

Gillingham: Stuart Nelson (Darren Hawkes 60), Barry Fuller (Matt Fish 60), Joe Martin (Jack Evans 60), Charlie Lee (Charlie Allen 60), Andy Frampton (Josh Hare 60), Connor Essam (Jack Davies 60), Chris Whelpdale (Bradley Dack 36 (Jack Payne 60)), Lewis Montrose (Ryan Gilligan 60), Danny Kedwell (Adam Birchall 60), Damian Reeves (Ben Strevens 60), Dean Morgan (Danny Jackman 60).

Goal: Ben Strevens 73

Attendance: 1,049
Referee: Mr Andy D’Urso (Billericay, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone) and Mr Ian Fissenden (Rochester)
Fourth Official:  Mr Mark Scott (Swanscombe)