Concord Rangers (1) 1 King 18
Gillingham (0) 2 Norris 52, Knott 90 (pen)
Attendance guess: 200-ish
Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 106/1,099
New Ground: 290
Match Report
The joke went along the lines of, when Gillingham conceded the opening goal, that's us relegated then; the equaliser took us to mid-table obscurity whilst the last minute winner spelt promotion! It was a jolly jape, we were all seasoned Gillingham supporters that have seen pre-season's without a win end with a promotion and, once, a ten-game unbeaten pre-season that finished with relegation. There is no rhyme or reason to results at this time of the year.
That be said, the first half of this hastily arranged match, due to Braintree Town's pitch not being ready, was a long way short of impressive.
Gillingham's pre-season has been blighted by injuries with Aaron Morris a likely long-term casualty. Deji Oshilaja and Bradley Garmston are also on the treatment table for the forseeable future. Everyone a defender, this obviously leaves Justin Edinburgh short at the back. Emmanuel Osadebe filled in alongside Max Ehmer in the centre of defence, but this surely cannot be considered an option going into the league season.
There were several trialists on view. In the first half, Rhys Murrell-Williamson, last season at Dulwich Hamlet played on the left flank with Marcus Williams (ex-Scunthorpe) at left back. In the second period, Tom Wraight, who played against Tonbridge in the play-off semi-final for East Thurrock played left back with Josh Lelan (ex-Northampton) filled in at right back.
The hosts went in front after 18 minutes when a cross into the box found the unchallenged head of Steve King who planted a firm header past Stuart Nelson. The defending was bad enough for the relegation joke to seem all too real.
Murrell-Williamson put in a teasing cross that just failed to find the feet of Bradley Dack in Gillingham's only purposeful attack of the first half.
The second half at least saw an increase in tempo from the League One side and they found an equaliser seven minutes into the half when Wraight crossed for Luke Norris to score from close range.
In fairness, Gillingham pressed hard in the second period without having too much of a cutting edge. They finally got a probably undeserved winner in the last minute when Rory Donnelly was brought down in the area leaving Bily Knott to convert from the spot.
Personally, I didn't find Concord's Thames Road ground the eyesore that some people have portrayed it. The playing surface was good and there is a decent sized covered seating enclosure along one side. Two small seating stands are either side of the dug-outs with a bit of covered terracing behind one goal. The point so often told about Canvey Island are the mosquitoes, fact is I didn't get bitten once.
No comments:
Post a Comment