Report by Joe Scott
Robbie McKenzie’s strike late in the first half was the difference as the Whites were narrowly beaten by League Two outfit Gillingham in their second showing of pre-season.
It was the newly promoted National League South side who made the brighter start to proceedings on a fine summer’s evening as Jake Leberl named three trialists in the starting eleven featuring across the back line and midfield.
It was the familiar faces at the top end of the pitch who were central to the Whites’ early pressure however. Last season’s playoff hero Ruben Soares-Junior looked lively early on as he looked to stretch the Gills backline following a throw up the other end of the pitch before Luke Baptise earned Leberl’s men the first corner of the game.
George Nikaj also tried his luck from the halfway line after spotting Jake Turner off his line but his audacious attempt was wide of the mark. The first real chance of the match did fall the way of the home side as a quick one-two between Nikaj and Alfie Matthews found the former with a shooting opportunity inside the box but his effort was comfortable for Turner.
It wouldn’t be long before the Whites had yet another effort on goal as Nikaj turned provider for Matthews this time. His deflected effort almost caught out Turner in the Gillingham goal but the Gills stopper was able recover and make the save. After a quiet twenty minutes in the Dover goal, Mitch Walker would finally be called into action as his smart save denied Bradley Dack from close range.
The Whites still had plenty of chances of their own as Nikaj again forced a save out of Turner on the half hour mark before a Soares-Junior and Matthews linked up well with the latter curling a shot over the bar. The visitors did almost find a breakthrough just prior to the interval as Jake Leberl’s men were caught off guard by a quick free kick only for Henry Lukombo to recover well and foil the dangerous attack.
It would be a set-piece that undone Dover’s bright start as a free-kick swung in from the left found Robbie McKenzie unmarked at the back post. The former Hull City man would make no mistake in dispatching past Walker to give Gareth Ainsworth’s men the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Both sides would struggle to recapture the intensity of the first half as Jake Leberl named ten changes to his side. Only Henry Lukombo survived the mass exodus at the interval. Opportunities were few and far between but the best chance of the half for Leberl’s men would come after a spell of sustained possession from the visitors as Luca Cocoracchio couldn’t convert George Wilkinson’s corner at the back post.
The away side would have the better of the chances without testing Claudio Boakye-Sarfo in the Dover net. Seb Palmer-Holden came closest to adding a second goal to the game as he volleyed narrowly over the bar from a deep cross from the right. The visitors almost doubled their advantage but Joe Tennent’s superbly timed challenge at the death kept the scoreline as it was.
