David McGoldrick’s second goal of pre-season sees Town 1-0 in front at half-time in their friendly against Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium.
Titus Bramble, Frederic Veseli and Bongali Khumalo all started. Veseli lined up at right-back with Bramble and Khumalo at the centre of the defence. Town appear to have ended their interest in centre-half Dan Seaborne, who was in the side last week and at Shelbourne with the former Southampton man in the Yeovil side facing Torquay United this evening.
Left-back Aaron Cresswell missed out having suffered a thigh injury at Crawley last Wednesday and Tyrone Mings fulfilled that role at the Priestfield Stadium. Anthony Wordsworth and Luke Hyam, who was wearing the armband, were in the centre of midfield with Jay Tabb on the left and Paul Anderson on the right. David McGoldrick partnered Frank Nouble up front.
The first chance of the game fell to the Gills in the third minute, Danny Kedwell beating Mings on the right and cutting the ball back to one-time Town schoolboy Chris Whelpdale, who lashed wildly over.
Veseli started the game impressively and in the 10th minute whipped over a superb cross from the right, which McGoldrick headed wide when he ought to have made a better contact and scored.
In the 19th minute, Nouble, who spent time on loan with the Gills while a West Ham player, hit a low shot which keeper Stuart Nelson claimed comfortably after a lengthy spell of Blues possession. Town had been comfortably on top against last season’s League Two champions.
The Blues finally scored the goal their performance had deserved in the 22nd minute, and what a goal it was. McGoldrick’s mazy run was halted by Bradley Dack’s trip about 10 yards outside the penalty area and the striker stepped up to curl brilliant low freekick to Nelson’s right and into the net. It was the former Forest man’s second goal of pre-season.
Moments after the goal Mings took a nasty knock to the head after an aerial clash with Kedwell but after treatment was able to carry on.
Town were close to going two goals in front in the 27th minute when Tabb fed Wordsworth, who moved the ball on to Nouble just inside the penalty area but Gills keeper Nelson did superbly to save his powerful strike to his left.
The home side had keeper Nelson to thank again in the 36th minute after he pulled off a fine double stop. Nouble’s initial strike fell to McGoldrick but Nelson blocked at close range. The loose ball ran out to Anderson but again the keeper was equal to the strike.
Hyam, who had made several lively runs forward, shot wide from 20 yards as the half moved into its final five minutes with the Blues on top but with Gillingham creating the odd moment of danger.
There were no other chances before referee Andy D’Urso blew the half-time whistle and Town’s subs began warming up.
Veseli, who was replaced at half-time by Elliott Hewitt had been the most impressive of the three trialists, pushing forward, working well with Anderson and getting in a number of decent crosses.
Bramble was solid and largely untroubled, as you’d imagine against League One opposition, while Khumalo was dominant in the air.
Town: Loach, Veseli (Hewitt 46), Mings, Bramble, Khumalo, Wordsworth, Anderson, Hyam (c), Nouble, McGoldrick, Tabb. Subs: Gerken, Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, October, Hammond, Skuse, Carson, Lawrence, Chopra, Murphy.