Gillingham (0) 1 Masterson 107
AFC Wimbledon (0) 0
Attendance: 5,747
Admission: £19 Senior
Mileage: 44/3,904
Weather: 2degC, full winter gear
When the loudest cheer of the night, at that point, is reserved for a floodlight failure, nobody needs me to describe the fare that is being served up.
For 65 minutes this was easily the worst game of football I’ve been unfortunate enough to watch this season. It was utter dross and whilst the atmosphere around me was nothing like the time pre-Galinson, the natives were pretty restless.
For Stephen Clemence, just 28 days into the job, the honeymoon period seems over and he was facing the full wrath of those in the Gordon Road Stand as his set-up with Tom Nichols as a lone striker was perceived as negative. I think I can understand that after a weekend defeat, conceding three goals at relegation threatened Tranmere Rovers, he needed to shore up the defence but one striker at home, and not the biggest of targets, did seem a touch negative.
The first half was only memorable as a reminder that we are definitely in the two pairs of socks season as the toes slowly numbed with little else to attract my attention.
Twenty mind-numbing minutes passed in the second half before the lights went out almost as a mercy to the spectators. They were off for nearly 25 minutes before the players returned with a little more energy.
Gillingham forged a couple of opportunities but the big chances fell to AFC Wimbledon with leading goalscorer Ali Al-Hamadi guilty of wasting three big chances.
With officially 107 minutes on the clock, but still with eight minutes remaining, Gillingham won a free kick on the left, 20 yards from goal. This was sent to the back post from where Macauley Bonne headed forward to be turned in by defender Connor Masterson.
The noise to greet the goal finally eclipsed the floodlight failure in terms of volume and again at the final whistle as the home side saw out the remaining minutes despite a final period of pressure from the visitors.
It wasn’t good, far from easy on eye, but three points takes the Gills back into the play-off places.
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