A crowd of 1,374 saw Gillinghams best starting elevendraw 1-1 in thefourthmatch of their pre-season friendly campaign, against an Ipswich Town XI.Manager Mark Stimson said beforetonights game that he was going to play his best starting eleven, but it was Ipswichwho startedbrighter as they dominated po se sion and created a few opportunities, showingtheir Championship quality.This meant Gillingham could only make their first real chance of the game on 6 minutes, when strikerGary Mulligan headed over from anAdam Miller cro s.The Gills then had another chance on 10 minutes when a shot from a free kick went just wide after Adam Miller was fouled following Dexter Lawrence Jersey a good run with the ball.Andrew Crofts was next to try and test the Ipswich goal on 17 minutes, but the Wales midfielder hit his long-rangeshot over the bar, troubling neither the Ipswich goalkeeper or the defence.However, Crofts came closer with a second attempt on 21 minutesthat hit the woodwork, when he Jerrel Jernigan Jersey saw hisshotbeat Ipswich keeper Richard Wright butnot the post, as Gillinghamstarted to pre s on for the opening goal.Ispwichwere the next team totry their luck on goal, when striker Jonathan Walters created something out of nothing, hitting a powerful shot which forced the acrobatics from Simon Royce in order to keep the scores level.Gillingham had another good chance on 33 minutes when Dennis Oli showedhis strength and persistence, making a good run into the box and then creating a chance for striker partner Simeon Jackson, but the Canadian forward hit his shot wide.It wasnt long however until the Gills broke the deadlock, when on 38 minutes, the so far impre sive Simeon Jackson put the Gills ahead after hitting a low effort thatdrifted in past keeper Richard Wright, following alay-off from strike-partner Gary Mulligan.Rather unlike the previous three friendlies, there was only one change at half-time for the Gills, as Nicky Southall NFL New York Giants Jersey came on in place of Gary Mulligan.The second half started rather slowly, with neither side creating any clear opportunities. However it was visitors Ipswich who did create the first real opportunity of the second half, when on 55 minutes Jonathan Walters cro sed in from the left forstriker Pablo Counago, but the Spaniard failed tofind the target ashit his effort against the side netting.Gillingham came close themselves a few minutes later when club captain Mark Bentley saw a powerful volley go just over the bar.The visitors then equalised on 62 minutes when striker Danny Haynes wasawarded a penalty after beingfelled in the box by Gills defender Simon King. Town midfielder Tommy Miller stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slotted home, sending keeper Simon Royce the wrong way.Ipswich couldve then took the lead on 69 minutes, when Towns Graham Gano Jersey new Dutch signing Pim Balkestein beat Simeon Jackson to a loose ball and hit a fierce goal boundeffort which required quick reactions from Simon Royce in order to keep the score tied.Few chances were created in the latter stages of the game, and both sides made multiple changes, with GillsSean Clohe sy coming on for midfielder Adam Miller, who wasforced to depart on 83 minutes with what looked to be an arm injury.In the end it finished 1-1, withthe Gillsreceiving a big ovation from the 1,300 strong home crowd, who will be just pleased as manager Mark Stimsonbythe good performance todayfrom the Gills, against a Kadarius Toney Jersey tough Championship opposition who brought along some of their best playersto the krbs Priestfield Stadium.
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