Striker Joe Gbode has his eyes on Accrington next Saturday with a determination to repeat his midweek goal when it matters most.
Gbode slotted home Gillingham’s only goal in a 2-1 loss at Ebbsfleet – a match where there were chances aplenty but only one went in for the league side.
Before scoring, Gbode fired a shot into a defender with the goal at his mercy, but he’s not one for looking back or getting frustrated at missed chances.
“I just cut inside, had a go, and it went in,” said the striker after his goal.
“It was easy. It was a pass. I’ll do it again. Thank God it went in. I am happy, thank God.
“I need to do it more often – it’s a confidence booster.
“Hopefully, by God’s grace, I can replicate the same thing at Accrington.
“It was a good goal. I have got to show that more often in the games – that is the aim for me.
“I knew what I wanted to do, I have practised that in training, and it came off.
“I need to make it persistent and try and replicate it in the league as much as I can.”
Gbode’s miss prior to his goal hadn’t dented his confidence. He just wanted another chance.
He said: “I was smiling and laughing about it because I just knew, ‘give me the ball’. I demanded it.
“As soon as I cut inside I knew ‘this is a goal’.
“I don’t care if I miss a chance, I am just enjoying the football, enjoying life, I am not going to beat myself up about it.”
The Gills have only won once in pre-season and Gbode’s effort was only their second open-play goal in four friendly matches and two 60-minute training games against Southampton.
Gbode said: “Some people might be a little concerned about the result but pre-season is about minutes in the legs and sorting out tactics.
“We were happy with the performance (on Tuesday) and on another day we are winning that easily. We dominated them second half.
“We are not concerned about the result, we played well, on another day the (goals) go in.”
Gillingham’s last first-team friendly is on Saturday at Dartford.
Gbode is looking forward to what matters most when the League 2 season gets under way.
He said: “Dartford is just a routine game, a training session, we just want to get that out the way.
“We are not too concerned about that, we’re just looking for the league to start.”
Gbode is confident the team can be a force this season – helped by a good team spirit off the field.
He said: “This is the best changing room I’ve been in, so far. We are optimistic. We know we can do something this season.
“Since the manager and the assistant Dobbo have come in they have improved all of us as players and as a team.
“It’s a good group and I am happy to have a good group of players to play with.
“It is a privilege to play, I am happy to be here playing football, I just try and enjoy it. I am not really taking it too serious, it is a short career. I am just trying to enjoy it as a much as I can.
