A goal in either half from Alex Henshall and Luke Hyam saw the Blues to a comfortable friendly victory over Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. Henshall opened the scoring in the second minute with Hyam adding the second just after the hour.

Trialists Balint Bajner and Kevin Bru started for the Blues, the Hungarian free agent striker, who was previously with Borussia Dortmund’s B team, having come on as a sub in the second half of Wednesday’s 3-0 victory at Colchester. French-Mauritian Kevin Bru was in midfield having played for the development side at Braintree on Tuesday.

Dean Gerken started in goal with Freddie Veseli at right-back, Jonny Parr on the left and Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith at the heart of the defence.

In central midfield Bru partnered Cole Skuse with Henshall on the left and Cameron Stewart on the right. Up front, Bajner was joined by Paul Taylor.

Town, in orange, went ahead with their first attack of the game in only the second minute. Stewart cut in from the right and crossed low beyond Taylor but Henshall slammed home at the far post.

The Blues were close to a second in the sixth minute when Smith powered Henshall’s left-sided corner just over.

The Gills' first opportunity came in the ninth minute, defender John Egan heading Jake Hessenthaler’s right-wing corner into Gerken’s arms. Two minutes later, the Blues keeper was out quickly to claim a ball over the top ahead of Danny Kedwell.

On 20 Stewart failed to trouble Gills keeper Stuart Nelson with a 30-yard freekick after Taylor had been fouled by Hessenthaler. Given the very warm conditions, the teams took a drinks break midway through the half.

As the period moved into its final 10 minutes, Stewart curled a cross-shot to the far post but Bru was unable to get in a header. Moments later, a low Henshall corner from the left beat everyone on the edge of the six-yard box before being cleared.

Town continued to have the better of it in the remaining minutes before referee Andy D’Urso blew his whistle. The Blues had been comfortably on top throughout the half having taken the early lead.

The home side had been limited to a few efforts from distance and a couple of headers from corners which failed to test Gerken, while the Blues might have made more of some of their opportunities with the final ball lacking on occasion.

Goalscorer Henshall was again impressive on the left of midfield, while Bru was much the better of the two trialists, confident on the ball and making one or two feisty tackles.

Elliott Hewitt and Jack Marriott, who both spent time on loan with the Gills last season, replaced Freddie Veseli and Paul Taylor at the break, while Gillingham made six changes.

Neither side created anything significant until the 57th minute when Skuse played in Marriott on the left of the area. The striker shot across keeper Glen Morris, but the half-time sub blocked. The loose ball was played out to Bru, who shot over.

The Mauritian international made way moments later indicating to physio Matt Byard that he had taken a knock to the calf in an earlier incident.

Hyam took over in central midfield and four minutes after coming made it 2-0. Trialist Bajner was found in space on the right from where he sent over a cross to the near post, which the midfielder nodded to keeper Morris’s left and into the net. While the teams lined up Anderson replaced Henshall with Stewart moving to the left.

On 64 Bajner saw a header strike the post but with the linesman’s flag already raised, Marriott following up and hitting the net.

Blues keeper Gerken was out quickly to claim ahead of Luke Norris from Brennan Dickerson’s knockdown, then at the other end Marriott shot wide from Bajner’s flick.

Norris twice went close in the 69th minute, first heading against Parr, before Smith similarly got in the way of his subsequent shot. Soon after, Daryl Murphy replaced Bajner.

The home side were starting to have one or two chances, Amine Linganzi shooting well over from distance, then Bradley Dack — by now the only Gills starter still on the field — headed across the face of goal having been found at the far post by a cross from deep on the left.

With 13 minutes remaining Christophe Berra, Tyrone Mings, Anthony Wordsworth and Frank Nouble replaced Chambers, Parr, Skuse and Stewart.

Three minutes before the end Nouble battled his way past a couple of Gills defenders on the left but his shot, the last of the game, was blocked.

A fairly routine victory for the Blues who were rarely troubled by the League One team, aside from a couple of opportunities late in the second half following the usual flurry of substitutions.

Henshall and Hyam took their opportunities well and 2-0 - the Blues are still to concede in pre-season - was a fair reflection of the game.

Town: Gerken, Veseli (Hewitt 46), Chambers (Berra 77), Smith, Parr Mings 77), Stewart (Nouble 77), Bru (Hyam 58), Skuse (Wordsworth 77), Henshall (Anderson 63), Bajner (Murphy 70), Taylor (Marriott 46). Subs: Bialkowski. Ref: Andy D’Urso (Billericay). Att: 1,812 (Town: 236)

Photo: Action Images

rambohambo added 16:53 - Jul 26 Good to see hyam score he needs to me confident in front of goal as he gets in some good positions
3

Liastro added 16:54 - Jul 26 Sounds like a solid result matched a solid performance. Excellent to continue with our run of clean sheets, and if Henshall keeps up his form we could have a real asset on our hands this season. Very positive!
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TractorBoy666 added 16:56 - Jul 26 Another clean sheet! Should be doing the confidence of the players well even if it's only league one opposition. Excited by the signing of Henshall, could be that winger we've been craving for a long time now. Well done lads, keep it up for when we face Fulham, can't wait! COYB
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blueboy1981 added 16:57 - Jul 26 ........... another good workout - with all having the chance to show. The kind of pre season friendly that's always worthwhile.
4

bedsitfc added 16:59 - Jul 26 Taylor showed nothing again I take it!!! He has some skill and bags of pace but can't apply it onto a football pitch
0

irishtim added 16:59 - Jul 26 Solid. A few more creative additions and we may be celebrating promotion.
2

Pendejo added 17:14 - Jul 26 Surely the climax should come after the goal Luke
1

bring_back_Wickham added 17:17 - Jul 26 ?^
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DurhamTownFan added 17:47 - Jul 26 Two goals from midfield and another clean sheet-pretty good stuff! The real test comes at fulham, mind... Hoping these games give the team some confidence going forward!
3

irishtim added 17:48 - Jul 26 Seems McGoldrick may play some part in next friendly.
0

rhybeaniho added 17:50 - Jul 26 A stupid, trivial and absurd game of football. What's the point playing teams well below our level. The only exception so far this pre-season is the West Ham fixture.
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Jimmy86 added 17:53 - Jul 26 With the addition of a couple more permanant players and the odd loan I am feeling optimistic of having a decent season. In the last 2 games 2 players who couldnt hit a barn door with a beach ball have both scored and this will have done their confidence the world of good. Need to see more from both Nouble and Hyam next season, as apart from effort, which they both clearly have in abundance, they are sadly missing in other assets of their game

3

essextractorboy93 added 18:12 - Jul 26 Sounds like a good work out against good lower league opposition. We have played some decent sides this pre season, Colchester, West Ham, Gillingham and Southend and Orient to come. Excited about our wingers this year, Henshall and Anderson have particularly impressed so far and hopefully Stewart can too. They all add pace to the side, something we lacked last season. Also encouraging to see that yet again we seem difficult to break down. More of the same please!

5

unknown100 added 18:22 - Jul 26 I know they aren't the best teams but if you aren't conceding goals you aren't losing games :) I think if we are in or around they play offs you will see us spend money on where we need it, stick a Johnny Williams type loan in the centre of midfield and mcgoldrick back in the team and you really are looking at a good team
1

jas0999 added 18:25 - Jul 26 Yes, good result and another worthwhile work out. We are still FOUR senior players down (3 loans) from the squad which finished last season. This is a worry, but perhaps not quite as bad if we intend to utilise Marriott and Hewitt. Personally, feel we need further options if we intend to challenge for promotion, whilst clearly a Jonny Williams type player has not been replaced, which could be a real issue. The defence in my opinion is one of the best in the league. The keeper situation, more than adequate and stronger than last year. The worry remains goals in midfield ... Despite two today, will the central players score enough? Not convinced. Murphy and Nouble remain hard workers, but not prolific. Perhaps Marriott will step up, but alas another option required in my opinion. We certainly won't struggle, yet not convinced we have enough to sustain a play off challenge. We will see!

9

Ingleby93 added 18:38 - Jul 26 Really hope we sign Bru. Seems a good player to me. Think Bajner will be a good player too
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irishtim added 18:52 - Jul 26 Reckon we will get 4 more players in prob 2 signings and two loans. In key areas like attacking midfielder and striker we could be on our way.
3

ArnieM added 19:29 - Jul 26 In Mick we Trust!
3

LWNR2013 added 19:36 - Jul 26 D'Urso doing some 'tempimg' ? Nice.
0

TimmyH added 19:50 - Jul 26 spot on jas0999 - although a good win today and a worthwhile match to get maybe fitness levels better on a let's face it a very warm day not too much can be read into it. Well done all.
1

blue added 20:25 - Jul 26 Good friendlies ,good results doesn't matter who we play clean sheets and players blending with new editions to squad.weldone to management.
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 20:38 - Jul 26 And we wernt playing a team of italian wine merchants and farmers, thats always good
6

mrmorisato added 22:55 - Jul 26 Good solid defensive performance throughout. Its been many seasons since I can honestly say we have a 'Good squad of players' ....even the fringe players like vesell had a good game today, Marriott is going to be a BIG player for us if he continues to develop at the rate he's shown over the last 12 months and Henshall has Premier league quality all over :) Not sure what the negatives were today.....anyone of the other 234 who went today agree...?

3

beacon added 02:34 - Jul 27 neither trialist is better than we already have so bin the pair . Veselli constantly played the easy option .Hewitt more of a threat in 2nd half but probably still go with Chambo. Parr dosent offer same threat as Cresswell personaly i would go with Mings . Midfield is interesting both Stewart and Henshall look like they have something to offer, Hyam and Skuse will both start against Fulham. Murphy and Didz will be our strikers as our squad stands at present .Marriott had a good game i thought and will become a potent force in time , Nouble is Nouble starting with him and he gives us nothing bring him on and he scares the life out of defenders , having said all this the pleasing thing is that MM is not bringing players in for the sake of itr and is biding his time as i think he has targets from prem clubs in mind and this will not be sorted untill they have there squads sorted , thats the reality of it, in short i think our team could read Gerks Chambo Smith Berra Mings/Parr Stewart Hyam Skuse Henshall Murphy Didz/Marriott With 3 new players to arrive before middle sept RB / Ceative Mid/ Striker

4

MedwayTractor added 13:52 - Jul 27 I agree with just about all Beacon's comments. My own views on the individual performances: Gerken: Not really tested all afternoon, shaome we didn't see the beanPole in the second half, to be able to make some sort of comparison. Back Four: Hewitt was more of an attacking threat than Veseli, the established players did what we expect of them, Parr's distribution was poor, mostly hoofball in the first half, Mings was much better, both coped OK when tested defensively, which wasn't often. Mings will be more inclined to expose the rest of the defence, as he is more attack minded, he might be a good option as an old fashioned attacking wing-half with Parr behind him. Midfield: Bru looked good to start with, gave the midfield a better forward mobility than the Skuse/Hyam pairing, but he faded before the end of the first half. Both Stewart and Henshall gave the Gills defenders a hard time, both seemed OK helping out in defence - be interesting to see if MM tries a 4-2-4 lineup at home, ie two speedy wingers! Anderson was at least as good as Stewart (who switched to the left when Ando came on). Very surprised (but welcome) to see Hyam scoring, I like his committment, but, like Veseli, he is too keen on the easy pass, sideways or backwards. Attack: Bajner was hopeless, won almost nothing in the air all afternoon, especially disappinting for a tall man, Murphy much better. Liked all I saw of Marriott, seems his preference is to play on the shoulder of the last defender we we attack from deep, or to make Warky like runs into the six yard box on corners etc. He has something of the Kevin Phillips about him, even down to the swagger! Taylor was a handful for the Gills defence, just a pity that he had Bajner up front with him, as most of his effort was wasted by lack of good support play. As for big Frank, lots of effort, found space well & combined to good effect with Stewart & Mings down the left - but would he be given as much time and space against a better defence, in a higher league and in a competitive match? See you all at Crawley - anybody need a lift from Maidstone?

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