Gillingham (2) 2 Dack 18, McDonald 45
Crewe Alexandra (0) 0
Att. 4,998
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 52/1,181
Match Report
Admittedly this was one of the poorest Crewe Alexandra sides seen at Priestfield in recent years despite arriving with the title of one of Gillingham’s bogey sides having won on each of their last four visits. Steve Davis’ side may try to play their football in the true tradition of Crewe teams but, at present, there is nobody with the talent of a Nick Powell or the goals of a Chuks Aneke that has put the gloss on their performances in Kent over that period.
For the opening half of this game, Gillingham fans got a true glimpse of what Peter Taylor is trying to achieve. Their crisp passing game was almost a reflection of what we would expect of a Crewe team, with the midfield trio of Bradley Dack, Jake Hessenthaler and Aaron Morris exacting dominance over their visiting counterparts and opening the spaces for the pace of Jermain McGlashan to exploit.
The opening goal after 18 minutes was a real beauty. Following a McGlashan raid and cross, Crewe failed to clear their lines with the ball falling at Dack’s feet 20 yards from goal. A step inside and a curling left foot shot into the top corner gave the Crewe goalkeeper, Ben Garrett, no chance.
Gillingham closed out their half with a second goal that their superiority deserved. A wonderful through ball from Hessenthaler saw Cody McDonald in the clear and one-on-one with Garratt. The goalkeeper blocked the striker’s initial effort but the ball looped high into the air towards the goal and McDonald following in, needed no more than a touch to complete the task.
The second half was a coast for the home side with Crewe mustering a couple of shots that failed to test Stephen Bywater to any great extent whilst McGlashan just failed to add a gloss to this performance with a header that struck a post. Perhaps the criticism would be that this was a Crewe team that were there for the taking by a far greater winning margin.
Leon Legge was a casualty from the successive defeats against Barnsley and Newcastle and he has a battle on his hands to regain his place in the side. Kortney Hause is improving with every game whilst his central defensive partner, John Egan, had a splendid game and is looking to be the cream of Taylor’s close season signings.
McGlashan took the award of Man of the Match for his exciting running at defenders. The lack of a consistent end product meant that, for my vote, I would have chosen any one of the midfield trio.
It is home, sweet home for Gillingham, but to make an impact on this division that form needs to be taken on their travels. A change to the considered old fashioned 4-4-2 proved as comfortable as an old pair of slippers on this occasion but whether it is secure enough to take into the next away game against Coventry City, back at the Ricoh, that is for Peter Taylor to decide. But, on home soil, hopefully the eye-catching style can continue and some of the folk that came along to see Newcastle United of the Premiership will soon return to watch Gillingham in League One action.
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