Dover Athletic 1-4 Gillingham - Time to pay up Jack!

DOVER ATHLETIC 1-4 GILLINGHAM
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 21^st July 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Crabble

A fantastic sun-kissed crowd of 3,011 saw Coca Cola League One side Gillingham beat Dover Athletic in Andy Hessenthaler’s first game in charge of the Ryman League Division One South giants.

And the Crabble club are expected to bank another £3,000 - if a certain “Jack Herer” keeps to his promise.

London based “Jack Herer” wrote on Dover Athletic’s fans’ forum last Tuesday that the club would not attract 3,000 for it’s opening pre-season friendly.

“3,000 for a friendly - you’d be lucky!” he foolishly wrote. “I’d happily write out a cheque for £3k to DAFC if there are over 3,000 there.”

He’s better keep to his promise, however, as Dover Athletic impressed against a full first-team squad sent to Crabble by Gills’ boss, Ronnie Jepson.

Hessenthaler, meanwhile, fielded some very talented players, which are expected to take the Ryman League Division One South by storm this season.

American goalkeeper, Dean Ruddy, who played for rivals Horsham YMCA last season, impressed during the first-half, before being replaced by Ross Kitteridge, whose on trial from Reading.

Dover included two French trialists, right-sided midfielder Charles Christophe, and Hamdi Razak, a striker, who came on at the break.

Matt Fish (Crystal Palace), Frannie Collin (Gillingham), Mark Lovell (Sittingbourne), and Hessenthaler (Barnet), made their first appearances for the Whites.

And Alan Pouton, 30, formerly of Grimsby Town, Hartlepool United (loan), York City, Oxford United and Gillingham, scored a stunning free-kick after 59 minutes, to half a two-nil deficit after 59 minutes.

And former Cray Wanderers, Bromley and Welling United central defender, Joe Vines, 26, played for Dover Athletic today.

The Sidcup resident suffered play-off final misery at the end of last season for Whites’ rivals, Tooting & Mitcham United.

And it was Dover striker James Dryden who was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring after 12 minutes.

The former Folkestone Invicta hit-man cut inside and hit a left-footed shot from 22-yards, which was trickling towards the bottom far-corner.

But Gillingham goalkeeper Simon Royce made a fine save low down to his right to tip the ball around the foot of the post.

Gillingham went close following their forth corner of the game, when Mark Bentley sent his powerful header agonisingly past the left post following Barry Cogan’s flag-kick.

But they broke the deadlock soon after when, Mulligan scored in the 24^th minute.

Delroy Facey whipped in a cross from the left, which was met by a powerful header from Bentley.

Gravesend resident Ruddy, made a flying save, however, clawing the header onto the top of the far post, but despaired when Mulligan fired the ball into the net with his right-foot from eight-yards.

Dover Athletic almost hit-back within a minute, through former Gillingham and Hereford United midfielder, Jon Wallis.

But Royce managed to beat out Wallis’ right-footed shot from thirty-yards.

Gillingham doubled their lead after 31 minutes when Cogan’s cross from the right was met by Mullian’s glancing header, which beat Ruddy to find the bottom left-hand corner.

Gillingham went close again later in the first-half when Cogan drove his shot past the left post after Mulligan knocked down Craig Armstrong’s ball into the Dover penalty box.

Home-grown defender, Craig Cloke, sent his towering header into Royce’s grateful arms on the stroke of half-time.

Dover Athletic made eight substitutions at the break, including Gillingham legend, Hessenthaler, who received a warm welcome from both sets of supporters.

And he was pleased when Pouton pulled his side back into the game, scoring with a stunning free-kick fourteen minutes into the second half.

Substitute Liam Quinn was fouled by Efe Sodje on the edge of the Gillingham penalty area.

And star Pouton curled a right-footed free-kick into the top far corner from 20-yards, which gave substitute goalkeeper, Scott Davies no chance.

Jepson then made four changes to his side, and this caused confusion in Dover’s defence as Andrew Crofts made it 3-1 after 66 minutes.

Aaron Brown’s cross from the left was met by Crofts, who leapt with Kitteridge, and found the net via a goal-line deflection off Quinn.

And the Medway side wrapped up their victory with ten minutes remaining - thanks to a goal-line scramble.

Alaistair John’s corner was met by Bentley, whose shot was blocked by Kitteridge, but Andy Pugh was on hand to steer the ball over the line from a yard-out.

Dover’s French trialist, Razek, saw his late header drop agonisingly past the left-post after winning an aerial challenge against Davies.

Dover Athletic: Dean Ruddy (Ross Kitteridge 45), Matt Fish (Tom Hickman 45), Sam Gore (James Rogers 45), Joe Vines (James Gregory 60), Craig Cloke, John Keister (Liam Quinn 45), Jon Wallis (Alan Pouton 45), Charles Christop.he (Andy Hessenthaler 45), James Dryden (Mark Lovell 45), Frannie Collin (Jack Tanner 62), Byron Walker (Hamdi Razak 45).

Goal: Alan Pouton 59.

Gillingham: Simon Royce (Scott Davis 45), Craig Armstrong (Tom Bryant 66), Efe Sodje (Duncan Jupp 66, Craig Stone 69), Simon King (Ian Cox 66), Nicky Southall (Sean Clohessy 66), Aaron Brown, Mark Bentley, Andrew Crofts, Barry Cogan (Alistair John 66), Delroy Facey (Andy Pugh 67), Gary Mulligan (Guylain Ndumbu Nsungu 79).

Goals: Gary Mulligan 24, 31, Andrew Crofts 66, Andy Pugh 80

Attendance: 3,011
Referee: Mr Martin Yerby (Ashford)
Assistants: Mr David Buck (Gravesend) & Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone)