Kane Haysman was the star of the show
at the Charles Sports Ground on Wednesday evening, as the midfielder scored four goals in
a very comfortable pre-season win for the Gillingham academy.
It was a warm summers evening on the
coast and the Gills youngsters put on a show they can be happy with,
as they overcome a very uninspiring Deal side. It came as quite a
surprise that Deal, in their first pre-season, offered nothing.
Less than a few minutes were on the
clock when the Gills picked up their first goal after some good work
from Stephen Butcher. His cross from the right found Haysman in
plenty of space on the edge of the six yard box, who made no mistake
with his header.
Chances were very few and far between
for the hosts. Their best effort came soon after the Gills took the
lead, but a long range shot was comfortably saved by Gowans in goal,
low down to his right.
The Gills doubled their advantage
almost straight away as Ashley Miller latched onto a long ball before
rounding the keeper and slotting home into the empty net. Miller has
been on the fringes of the Gills first-team for a while and will be
looking to break into the squad as soon as possible. The striker had
another opportunity soon after, but his effort was well saved by the
Deal keeper.
With the manager very vocal on the
sidelines, the team on the pitch did exactly what was asked of them.
Some of the passing on display was sublime, and it was only a matter
of time before another goal was scored. A blocked effort from just
inside the area was soon followed up by Haysman as he hit home from
twelve yards out. 3-0 to the Gills, and the youngsters were very much
in their element and enjoying playing the game.
Jake Hessenthaler, son of former
manager Andy, forced a decent save from the keeper shortly after and
from the resulting corner he looked very poor as he came for the
ball, and nearly gifted the Gills a fourth. He came to life a couple
of minutes later as he sprung high to his left to brilliantly deny
Miller a second.
There was nearly an embarrassing moment
for the Deal number ten as his wayward header nearly caught the
keeper off guard. Fortunately he was aware of the poor header and
saved well down low to his left.
The crunching tackles were coming from
the hosts the whole first half, and their physicality showed when
Butcher had to go off to receive treatment for what looked to be a
nasty elbow to the face.
Not one to shy away from his
responsibilities, Butcher was back on in no time as he produced a
fine through ball to set up Haysman to give him his hat trick.
HT: 0-4. Excellent performance from the
youngsters in the first half, fully deserved a four goal advantage at
the break.
The only change at half-time for the
visitors was Butcher going off, and he was replaced by Charlie
Webster. It wasn't long before he was in on the action as he saw an
effort go over the bar from the edge of the area.
Tom Derry missed a good chance before
almost setting up a goal as he sent a ball over for Miller, who saw
his effort goal wide of the near post when it looked easier to score.
It was almost five, as an excellent cut
back from Jack Parter left Derry in acres of space, only for the
defender to get back with an excellent goal line block. It was five
though, as the visitors were handed a penalty. Haysman confidently
stepped up and slotted home for his fourth of the night; an excellent
performance from the midfielder.
As the hosts begun to tire, the
full-backs were getting forward even more and giving them more
problems and Derry so very nearly scored after a great cross from
Parter found him unmarked. The keeper produced a solid stop.
There was almost a moment of brilliance
from Deal as the number six attempted an audacious lob from 30 yards,
which just dropped wide of the post, while the keeper was in no man's
land.
Derry did eventually get on the score
sheet late in the game as Miller laid it on a plate for him. The
young striker fully deserved a goal as he'd worked his socks off all
game and was unlucky not to have had one sooner.
6-0 the final score, and a great run
out for some future stars. Miller, Butcher and Haysman the stand
outs.
Gills: Gowans, Parter (Muggleton),
McKain, Davies, Carter (Nyafli), Butcher (Webster), Hare,
Hessenthaler (Millbank), Haysman, Miller, Derry.
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