Gillingham striker Will Goodwin on a growing relationship with strike partner and neighbour Ronan Hale

Gillingham striker Will Goodwin hopes a close connection off the pitch with fellow front-man Ronan Hale can help create a lethal partnership on it.

The pair have quickly become friends, with Goodwin finding himself living just a few doors away from his new team-mate, following a summer move from Oxford United.

They now regularly travel to training and matches together and Goodwin believes their growing understanding could prove a major weapon for Gareth Ainsworth’s side.

The pair created plenty of opportunities in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Walsall, with Goodwin twice hitting the bar, but he insists the lack of goals did not mean their partnership was not working.

“I've spent a lot of time with Ronan because we come in together and do a lot of things together,” he said.

“He said the gaffer had spoke to him in the summer as well to tell him that I was coming in. I think Ronan had quite a lot of joy playing with Sam Vokes last year.

“The gaffer was telling him that he can sign someone that can play a similar style of play to him that will create a lot of chances for him. I hope he was happy with that.

“We literally live a couple of houses down from each other. Not that I knew that coming in, but we come in together every training day and games and stuff.

“We talk a lot about training, games and obviously playing together helps off the pitch if you've got a good connection. You take that on to the pitch, don't you?

“I think we've really linked up well in training, especially this week. We're trying to find each other [with the ball] and do a lot of things that are freeing up the other player. It's been a good connection this week.”

Goodwin joined the Gills after a loan spell at League 2 Colchester United last season, where an