Gillingham 2 Macclesfield Town 4

Match 66/10/884 - Saturday, 30 April 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 2 Jackman 43, Martin 71
Macclesfield Town (3) 4 Draper 3, Daniel 7, 17, Sinclair 48
Att. 6,841

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: Sold Out
Mileage: 45/9,644

Match Report

Just about everything that could go wrong went wrong on Saturday. Entering April with four home games remaining against clubs from the lower half of the Division augured well for the promotion aspiration that was still of the automatic variety. But those four games have yielded just two points and three successive away wins have been the means by which the campaign has remained just about on track.

Earlier in the month, Hereford and Morecambe came, parked a bus, and Gillingham lacked the guile to break down their resolute defending. Firstly, Barnet and on Saturday, Macclesfield, came with freedom to seek a win and the home side’s defence frailties were exposed for all to see.

Cheap tickets filled half of the Brian Moore Stand and, must to my annoyance, sold the programmes out prior to my arrival, leaving Priestfield’s biggest crowd of the season ready and willing to roar their favourites into the play-offs. Following Easter Monday’s success at Rotherham, Andy Hessenthaler opted to remain unchanged after making seven changes to the side that was comprehensively beaten by Barnet.

Rather than the Barnet performance being a bump in the road, Saturday became a recurring nightmare. Initially, there was nothing to suggest the way the afternoon was about to unfold. Gillingham started brightly and Cody McDonald had an opportunity but pulled his shot wide. It was misfortune that set in motion the afternoon’s events. Garry Richards looked to send a back pass to Alan Julian but the ball rebounded of fellow central defender Simon King into the path of Ross Draper who kept his composure to strike firmly past the keeper for a third minute lead.

The game was set to go from bad to worse as the Cheshire side doubled their lead within three minutes. Emile Sinclair showed a turn of pace to which Richards had no answer, his cross might not have been meant for Colin Daniel, but once it found its way to him of the right hand side of the box, he likewise carefully picked his shot to stun the Gillingham faithful.

The game was virtually over as a contest after just seventeen minutes when Macclesfield added a third goal. Daniel was allowed to cut in from the right unchallenged and fired home via the right hand upright. Reality was that the day was in tatters, optimism allowed 73 minutes to rescue the situation.

Andy Barcham limped out of the match after half-an-hour to be replaced by Luke Rooney, who injected enthusiasm as much as anything else. Gillingham endeavoured to respond and had chances but it was Macclesfield that went closest again when Sinclair forced Julian into a good save with the keeper needing to make a double save as Tyrone Bennett headed the rebound goalwards.
Gillingham needed a goal back before half time and it duly arrived with a couple of minutes remaining. Joe Martin crossed from the left, Mark Bentley headed back across the face of the goal for Danny Jackman to volley past Jose Veiga in the Macclesfield goal. Hopes had been raised within Priestfield.

These were hopes that were quickly dashed at the beginning on the second half. From a Gillingham attack, Adebayo Akinfenwa delayed a pass and from the interception a long ball out of defence allowed Sinclair to race between the Gills central defensive pairing and lob Julian from the edge of the penalty area.

Simon King, who looked a long way from full fitness, had been replaced at the break by Barry Fuller and it was to be a short stay on the pitch for the Gillingham skipper. A reckless challenge from Tony Diagne ended with Fuller being stretchered from the pitch with what appeared to be a serious injury.

If it wasn’t to be Gillingham’s day, it also applied to leading goalscorer McDonald. He looked certain to score on the hour but his shot didn’t carry enough force and Draper cleared from the line. Gillingham eventually reduced the arrears in the 71st minute when Martin scored with a shot from outside of the box.

The crowd did their best to urge the great escape but, in truth, the home side huffed and puffed their way to the finish and on the break it looked more likely that the visitors were going to inflict more damage.

Results elsewhere dumped Gillingham outside of the play-off places, but at least a defeat for Stevenage and a draw the previous evening for Torquay left a top seven place still a possibility. Stranger things that Gillingham winning at already promoted Chesterfield have happened, but it is a big ask.

Gillingham 2 Barnet 4

Match 64/10/882 - Saturday, 23 April 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 2 Barcham 28, 80
Barnet (2) 4 Byrne 13, McLeod 45, 50, 70 (pen)
Att. 6,170

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/9,573

Match Report

Andy Barcham’s brace of goals on his 100th start will be a meaningless statistic in years to come as this car crash of a result left a devastating hole in Gillingham’s promotion push. The 16 game unbeaten run was unceremoniously dumped as relegation haunted Barnet turned the league table on its head, even allowing themselves the luxury of a missed penalty.

Whilst Gillingham’s home form has been patchy, personally and I would think many more people, didn’t see this result, and especially this performance, coming. Andy Hessenthaler’s after-match comments might beg to differ from this opinion but my feelings are that he made a big mistake with his team selection. OK, so I’m writing with the benefit of hindsight, but his reason for leaving Kevin Maher on the bench was to save his ageing legs for Rotherham given the Easter schedule of two games in three days. One of football people’s most used clichés is that each game is taken as it comes, perhaps the Gillingham manager should have won this game first and let Rotherham take its course.

The removal of the defensive midfielder left Gillingham’s back line exposed in a manner that we have not witnessed since those early days of the season when conceding sevens and fives at the likes of Accrington Stanley.

Izale McLeod had a field day and had it not been for a decision to take the piss from the penalty spot, when an arrogant attempt to dink the goalkeeper ended with the ball sailing into the Rainham End, he would have ended the day with four goals to his credit.

Hessenthaler made the decision that he would put out a side with an attacking intention in the knowledge that to maintain any hope of automatic promotion maximum points were going to be needed from virtually all of the remaining games, certainly no points could be afforded to be dropped at home. Maher was replaced by Jack Payne and injuries to Joe Martin and Curtis Weston enforced the selection of John Nutter and Luke Rooney.

On a hot day belying its April date, Gillingham were floundering from the outset and they were behind in the 13th minute. A left wing cross was cleared only to Mark Byrne who struck sweetly into the bottom corner. At least the setback had the desired effect to inject some life into the home side. Barcham was lively and in the 29th minute he levelled the score when he pounced after Bees’ keeper Sam Walker had spilt Cody McDonald’s initial effort. Most of Gillingham’s biggest crowd of the season would have expected the hosts to go on from this point and win with ease, little did they know that a nightmare was about to unfold.

Rooney was unfortunate as a well worked free kick saw his shot rebound from a post but in stoppage time at the end of the half Gillingham’s back line went absent when a long cross to the far post was headed across the face of goal by Jude Stirling to the unmarked McLeod who headed home with ease.

If the manager had stern words at half time, they were ineffective. A cross from the right was completely missed by Josh Gowling and McLeod was able to chest the ball into the net from close range leaving the home side with a steep hill to climb. Worse was to follow

As Gillingham’s back line and defensive midfield went into complete meltdown, the visitors had further chances before Matt Lawrence, subject of a lengthy stoppage earlier following a blow to the face, brought down Mark Marshall to concede a penalty that was duly converted by McLeod, sending Julian the wrong way.

Dreamland was being entered by the jubilant, and daresay surprised, 399 Barnet fans as the nightmare continued for the remainder. Josh Gowling, who had his own horror show, wrestled Jack Midson to the ground to offer McLeod a second opportunity from the spot. A supreme display of cockiness by McLeod was justly rewarded with the reminder that he is no Messi despite the Gillingham back four doing their level best to make him appear so.

Barcham scored a consolation with ten minutes remaining; a deserved reward on his milestone appearance but it was far too little, far too late.

Players and management have a dual responsibility to themselves as much as any supporter who has paid his entrance fee. Once they cross the white line players have to show commitment and perform to the best of their ability, Andy Barcham aside, these players totally abdicated their responsibility. Likewise, the manager has to put the correct players on the pitch from the outset. Sorry Andy, but you got this one wrong.

Gillingham 1 Morecambe 1

Match 63/10/881 - Saturday, 16 April 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 McDonald 88
Morecambe (1) 1 Jeavons (pen) 21
Att. 5,545

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/9,528

Match Report

People around me jumped to their feet with their indignation at the referee’s decision, I was also convinced that an injustice had been dealt on Matt Lawrence, accused of handball and thus conceding the penalty that gave Morecambe a surprise lead. But, after midnight on Saturday evening, television pictures proved that it was indeed the hand of the Gillingham central defender that had handled the ball and not, as most believed, that Phil Jeavons. Manager Andy Hessenthaler had said as much on Radio Kent, but we were a lot closer and facing in the right direction than Hess and we still got it wrong. Perhaps referees are better than we give them credit for?! (And there again, perhaps not.)

From that 21st minute set back following Jeavons’ conversion of the spot kick, Gillingham huffed and puffed their way through a game that was totally one-sided in terms of possession, but a combination of outstanding goalkeeping, not for the first time, from Barry Roche, sterling defending and not enough clear shooting opportunities looked to have consigned the home side to a costly defeat. But with just two minutes remaining on the clock, John Nutter launched one more hopeful cross into the box, this time far enough away from Roche not to allow him a free catch of the ball, and Cody McDonald rose at the far post to steer a header into the opposite corner to preserve a valuable point.

Roche had been Gillingham’s nemesis in the return fixture back in August when a late, but not quite so late, Danny Spiller equaliser rescued a point from the Globe Arena. Today, he made superb saves from Kevin Maher, Adebayo Akinfenwa and McDonald before half-time. Despite the attack against defence nature of the game, the visitors could and should have entered the break with a two goal lead when Danny Carlton had a volley saved by Alan Julian.

The second half was even more one-sided than the first but Morecambe were defending for their lives. This was a wonderful example of English football, Morecambe have very little left to play for this season, but their resilience and their honesty to the game were a credit. Mind you, they did achieve this with an element of bare-faced time wasting that eventually earned a booking for their hero of the hour, keeper Roche.

Second half efforts from McDonald brought the best from the keeper, but a side-footed effort from Spiller was easily handled when the midfielder should really have but his laces through the ball. It appeared a frustrating finish was to be the result until McDonald rose to head home his 25th goal of the season.

With five minutes of added time, the home side went hell for leather to grab all three points and one almighty scramble ensued in which pin ball was played between attack and defence; defence won and Gillingham had to be content with their rescued point.

It was disappointing that several of the games involving the promotion chasers also ended in draws and a missed opportunity had resulted, flip side being that very little ground has been lost. I had thought that to attain automatic promotion, five wins from the last five games was going to be necessary and now with four left and five points adrift of third place, I’m convinced that the play-offs are now the sole objective.

Gillingham 0 Hereford United 0

Match 61/10/879 - Saturday, 2 April 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Hereford United (0) 0
Att. 5,709

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/9,103

Match Report

Oh dear, oh dear. Any momentum that was gained from last week’s thrilling last five minutes at Cheltenham was lost in this dreary goalless draw against a Hereford side needing a result to ease their own position at the wrong end of the table.

We will never know what might have been had Cody McDonald converted an opportunity after just two minutes. The game would almost certainly have taken a different course had the home side gone in front so early, forcing Hereford to compromise their defensive plan which involved copious time wasting.

McDonald was sent clear by a long pass from Kevin Maher, Bulls’ goalkeeper Adam Bartlett came a long way from his goal and was lobbed by the ace marksman but his effort was agonisingly inches wide.

The game was also spoilt by overly fussy refereeing by Paul Tierney who booked eight and sent both assistant managers to the stands.

Chances were few and far between for the duration of the match and it was a final minute effort from Adebayo Akinfenwa bringing a plunging save out of Bartlett, who touched the ball round a post, being the best chance since McDonald’s opening effort.

Boos rang round Priestfield at the final whistle, whether it was for the performance of both teams or the referee that had spoilt the match, perhaps a bit of both, but it leaves Gillingham clinging to their play-off spot by their fingertips.

Gillingham 3 Accrington Stanley 1

Match 56/10/874 - Saturday, 12 March 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (2) 3 Barcham 1, 45 McDonald 56
Accrington Stanley (1) 1 McConville 14
Att. 5,299

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/8,142

Match Report

Andy Hessenthaler sprinted to the dressing room at the sound of the half time whistle; his intent was obvious and was about to deliver a stern half time team talk despite his side holding a 2-1 advantage at the end of the first 45 minutes. Whilst the home fans were celebrating Andy Barcham’s 45th minute goal, the boss had not taken too much pleasure from a half that had started with the winger opening the scoring in the first minute but then found themselves largely playing second fiddle to a Accrington Stanley side playing with a confidence borne from four consecutive victories.

Hessenthaler’s half time rocket had the desired effect and following Cody McDonald’s 19th goal of the season on 56 minutes, Gillingham enjoyed a comfortable second half.

If Gillingham had revenge in their nostrils following that fateful 7-4 defeat at the Crown Ground in October, then they had the perfect start. Kevin Maher threaded a pass forward to Barcham who was probably third favourite to get to the ball behind either the Stanley keeper or a defender, who conspired to confuse each other. Barcham touched the ball past them and it rolled agonisingly over the line.

Gillingham’s joy was short lived as Maher brought down Andy Proctor in the box to give the visitors a seventh minute opportunity to level the score from the penalty spot. Phil Edwards struck a post with his spot kick to the despair of the 62 Stanley Ultras positioned behind the goal. Their disappointment was not to last long. On 14 minutes, Dean Winnard lofted a cross into the box that evaded the attention of John Nutter to allow Sean McConville to convert with ease.

Accrington’s passing and movement had the hosts struggling to contain, whilst the long ball to Adebayo Akinfenwa was more often than not ending with the referee’s whistle for a foul against the big striker. Akinfenwa does a superb job as the target man and holding up play, but if a referee comes into the game with any predetermined thoughts as too the legitimacy of his challenges then the route one tactic becomes negated.

After half an hour on the back foot and with half time approaching, central defender Garry Richards, not known for the cultured pass, played an exquisite ball forward to Akinfenwa who nodded the ball into the path of Barcham who crisply slipped the ball past the advancing Alex Cisak.

With Hessenthaler’s words still reverberating around their ears, Gillingham should have taken a 3-1 lead on 51 minutes. Akinfenwa did brilliantly along the byline, laid a pass across the face of the goal, only to see the ace marksman McDonald inexplicably steer the ball wide of the right hand post from very, very close range. It had to be Cody’s miss of the season, but good strikers put themselves back into scoring positions straight away and five minutes later, Nutter crossed from the left and the striker headed home to atone for his earlier error.

The goal allowed the home side to take control of the game which was seen out with relative comfort as Stanley lost their composure. A good win was enhanced as Gillingham were the only side in the top seven to win and they moved up a place to sixth on equal points with Rotherham and Shrewsbury occupying the fourth and fifth positions.

It is said that manager’s earn their corn during the half time break, Hessenthaler’s sprint and subsequent home truths certainly made the difference on this occasion.

Gillingham 2 Bradford City 0

Match 54/10/872 - Saturday, 5 March 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 2 Akinfenwa 43, Weston 46
Bradford City (0) 0
Att. 5,019

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/7,965

Match Report

Alex Ferguson was famed for throwing tea cups and, doubtless, Arsene Wenger will take a more professorial approach to the half time team talk, but I wonder what goes on in the referee’s dressing room during the break. Is it likely that the fourth official is going to storm through the doors and say, “hey referee, you have had a really shit half”, perhaps it might be one of his linesman, but this afternoon somebody really needed to tell Steve Rushton that he was really, really crap.

Parents know that if you fill kids with coke and chocolate you end up with a hyperactive nightmare, Rushton sprang out of the traps as if on the end of a 10 Mars bar binge. Perhaps he was disturbed by losing his fourth official in the dressing room causing a seven minute delay to the start of the game, but for 45 minutes he decided that he was centre stage and that he would be seen and certainly heard. Every 20 seconds, or so it seemed, the whistle blew for yet another mystifying decision. The game never got going, mainly because it was always stopped.

The second half, with the effects of the Mars bars wearing off, was a quieter period with some football actually breaking out from behind the whistle and thankfully, the game might be remembered in time for a fabulous strike from Curtis Weston and not the referee.

Gillingham desperately needed to break the run of draws and a fit again Andy Barcham was recalled to the starting line-up to add much needed width. The visitors, Bradford City, with Peter Jackson at the helm for the first time following the resignation of ex-Gillingham manager Peter Taylor, were one big lump of a side. Their central defender, Luke Oliver, omnipresent in the Gillingham area for every set piece was a mountain of a man that shrank his six feet team mates to mere mortals. With such size available, the route one method was an obvious tactic and though it was exploited to the full, when they got on the end of crosses the direction of their headers was wayward.

After 20 minutes of constant whistle and stoppages the referee called the captains together and must have said, “look, I’m having a really shit game, I can’t fake an injury as the fourth official has already done that, so let’s see if we can get to half time and I can ask the others where I’m going wrong. With that he duly booked Kevin Maher, for what? and Fuller for something else mysterious. His worst decision though was the award of a free kick with Barcham sprinting clear and the booking of Bradford’s Lewis Hunt to cover his embarrassment.

As half time approached and all talk during the break to be about the referee, Gillingham found a goal to give us something else to discuss. Jack Payne fed a pass to Weston, who looked to have missed a shooting opportunity as his first touch took him too wide, but he stood up a cross to the far post from where Adebayo Akinfenwa headed home.

The highlight of the game came within a minute of the restart. Weston won the ball on the right hand side, drove forward ten yards and let fly a guided missile that had Bantams’ keeper Lenny Pidgeley grasping at thin air. It was Weston’s third goal in four games and they have all been similar in their execution.

Bradford continued their aerial assault throughout the second half and although Matt Lawrence and Garry Richards stood up well to the challenge, several opportunities were fashioned for the big guys but their heading was way off beam.

At the final whistle, Gillingham were well worth their victory and thanks to Curtis Weston, we will be talking about his goal tonight and not Mr Rushton.

Gillingham 1 Bury 1

Match 51/10/869 - Saturday, 19 February 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 1 Weston 25
Bury (0) 1 Lowe 72
Att. 5,021

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/7,839

Match Report

No medals are awarded in mid-February, no Divisions decided. But, for the two clubs principally followed by That’ll Be The Day, 19 February 2011 offered an insight as to where their destiny may lie come the first week of May. Gillingham, residing in the play-off positions, but harbouring ambitions of an automatic promotion place, entertained fellow contenders Bury whilst at Longmead there was a match-up between Tonbridge and the leaders Sutton United, who held a 10 point advantage but with their hosts having three games in hand. Another month or so into the season and even more serious consideration would have been given as to which game to attend. Heavy rain had left the Longmead game in doubt, but the power of the season ticket eventually held sway.

A week ago I was raising questions as to whether some of the draws away from home would need to be turned into victories to put Gillingham into an automatic position, another draw, the fourth in six games since the defeat by Chesterfield, confirms the viewpoint. On this occasion, a first half lead was pegged back and most would have left the stadium feeling that Bury would have been particularly hard done by had they left without reward.

Back in the days when Gillingham were scoring four goals away from home and still conspiring to lose games, a visit to Gigg Lane brought a 5-4 reversal, but both sides showed a much greater resilience in defence on this occasion.

The last visitors to Priestfield, Rotherham, enabled the comparison to be made between the Division’s leading scorer, Adam Le Fondre and Gillingham’s in-form marksman, Cody McDonald. On the night, two goals from McDonald and Le Fondre well handled by Gillingham’s central defenders, allowed the home striker to shine the brightest. Yesterday, following the presentation of the Division’s Player of the Month to McDonald, another comparison was on offer between Bury’s Ryan Lowe and himself, and this time it was the visiting striker that took the honours.

On a wet day, Gillingham showed consideration to their visitors, allocating their 142 supporters a block of the Gordon Road stand to shelter from the inclement weather. Those fans were very nearly celebrating after 10 minutes when Lenell John-Lewis scooped over from close range following a right wing cross. Gillingham threatened for the first time when a Danny Jackman free-kick from the edge of the box curled narrowly wide after 20 minutes before Curtis Weston opened the scoring five minutes later with carbon copy of his goal at Crewe the previous week. Jackman played the ball forward and the midfielder, who is beginning to recapture the form that made him a fans’ favourite, cut in from the left, travelled across the face of goal and planted a right foot shot into the bottom corner from around 20 yards.

McDonald had his first opportunity to press his claims shrugging off the attention of his marker but steering his shot wide of the far post, sadly it was a precursor to the outcome of his afternoon.

If the home side had held sway in the first period, the second most definitely belonged to the Lancashire side. Alan Julian was forced into an early save from David Worrall, Jean-Lewis had the ball in the net only to see it ruled offside and Lowe directed a header at the keeper.

So it came as no surprise when the Shakers drew level. First half hero Weston became second half villain when he weakly lost possession on the half way line. Jean-Lewis sent Lowe clear and, although Julian made a partial parry, the ball found its way into the net despite the best efforts of John Nutter.

The home side mounted a big effort in the last five minutes to secure full points and two great chances fell to McDonald, the first, a volley that cleared the bar and finally, a clear shooting opportunity from around the penalty spot that lacked both power and direction allowing the keeper a relatively easy save from such a threatening position. It wasn’t the striker’s day and consequently it wasn't the Gills day, and that could well be acid test as the season winds down, one cannot go cap in hand with other.

Meanwhile, over at Longmead, an ex-Gill, Leroy Griffiths was quite probably executing the coup-de-grace on Tonbridge’s hopes of winning the Ryman Premier with a single goal winner. Play-off places beckon for both clubs, but, then again, this is only February.

Gillingham 3 Rotherham United 1

Match 49/10/867 - Tuesday, 8 February 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (2) 3 McDonald 6, 36 Oli 88
Rotherham United (1) 1 Law 7
Att. 4,824

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/7,330

Match Report

Chalk and cheese. Just how can two performances in the space of three days be so different. Gone was the howling wind that ruined Saturday’s game against Oxford and with it went the aerial assault on our neck muscles. Gillingham needed to use the albeit rather threadbare grass on Saturday and failed miserably, last night they found their passing game and produced as good a performance as any that we have seen this season at Priestfield against fellow promotion contenders, Rotherham.

We also had the opportunity to compare the two in-form strikers in the Division, our own Cody McDonald and Rotherham’s Adam Le Fondre, and on the night, Cody won by a country mile.

Lacking any wide players, manager Andy Hessenhaler chose to position Curtis Weston behind the front two in a diamond formation that worked to the benefit of the midfielder, who had his best game in many weeks.

To round off a night of good news, disappointing though it was to see Matt Lawrence limp out of the game after 20 minutes, the return of Simon King after 20 months on the sidelines was greeted rapturously by the Gillingham faithful. It might have been a slightly rusty partnership with the recently returned Gary Richards but they did enough to restrict Le Fondre to nothing more than a couple of speculative attempts on goal.

Gillingham were ahead after just six minutes, Weston played in McDonald, who burst clear of the Millers’ defence and drilled a shot that crept in under the body of the veteran keeper, Andy Warrington. Joy was short-lived as the visitors equalised within a minute. Awarded a dubious free kick 25 yards from goal, I was viewing from the angle that the shot would be taken. The wall appeared to be offering a yard of space to Alan Julian’s right and Nicky Law exploited it to the maximum with a perfectly placed shot that left the keeper motionless.

Following Lawrence’s substitution, Rotherham were forced into a significant change of their own. Warrington made a save at the feet of Weston, who caught the keeper with an accidental kick to the head that forced Warrington from the field and earned the Gillingham player a booking. Whilst there was nothing malicious in the challenge, and Weston could not have been more repentant as the pair shook hands as Warrington left the field, from my seat it appeared that he arrived marginally late as the keeper plunged at his feet.

McDonald showed his worth with a stunning finish to put the home side back in front on 36 minutes. He ran onto a ball over the top from the once-again impressive Kevin Maher and although forced wide he drove across the substitute keeper into the far corner of the net to put him personally within one goal of Le Fondre’s season total.
McDonald was offered several second half opportunities to level up those totals in an absorbing second half. A rebound off the keeper from a Weston shot saw the striker lift the ball over the bar and from a Adebayo Akinfenwa pass he dragged a shot wide of the post.

Julian had been virtually unemployed until Law brought a decent save from the keeper with a quarter hour remaining and there was a major scare five minutes from time when Le Fondre was offered his first clear-cut opportunity but lifted the ball over the bar from close range.

The sighs of relief turned to cheers when Gillingham made safe the points with a third goal. Akinfenwa’s persistence in the box led to McDonald having two shots being blocked before the ball fell to substitute Dennis Oli, his initial shot was well saved by Annerson but the rebound was driven home by Oli.

Before the game, my thoughts were that Gillingham needed to reinforce their credentials for an automatic promotion place by beating one of the sides above them. They have lost twice to Wycombe, recently at home to Chesterfield and it was way back in September when they beat Shrewsbury at Priestfield. Their next three games are all against fellow contenders and they enter this sequence with this morale boosting win behind them.

Smashing game, great win and could it be that in Cody McDonald we have the best striker in the Division, the evidence of last night says we have.

Gillingham 0 Oxford United 0

Match 48/10/866 - Saturday, 5 February 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Oxford United (0) 0
Att. 5,364

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/7,285

Match Report

Ninety minutes of my life that will never be returned and were truly wasted and I don’t intend wasting many more of mine or my readers’ time with a lengthy account of this dreadful match. Had I spent that time at home doing the ironing it would have been vastly more productive and marginally more entertaining.

The mitigating factor was a strong wind that neither side had the wit or guile to master. Long, long periods of boredom were spent peering into the grey sky looking at the spherical object that had once more been launched into the stratosphere. The one player that attempted to keep the ball in touch with planet earth, Kevin Maher, did more than enough to win the Man of the Match Award.

Gillingham started with a spring in their step and forced some panic in the Oxford defence with a Curtis Weston shot being blocked. And then the game just died on its feet, until a last 10 minute onslaught from the home side in search of a winner that would have been barely deserved.

We can breeze, in gale force conditions, through the highlights, which in truth are mainly lowlights. Matt Lawrence was fortunate when Grant Hegley took a common sense approach and showed him a yellow when a red might well have been brandished for a retaliatory kick out at Paul McLaren who had fouled him in the first instance.

It took 65 minutes for a shot to be registered on target, Cody McDonald bringing a comfortable save out of Ryan Clarke. Early second half substitutions enlivened the game to a degree, Luke Rooney taking a punt that was high and wide, but at least it was a shot.

Into time added on, and McDonald headed against the bar from a difficult angle before the referee called time much to the relief of all present.

Now, where’s that ironing.

Gillingham 2 Aldershot Town 1

Match 46/10/864 - Saturday, 29 January 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 2 McDonald 53,89
Aldershot Town (0) 1 Rodman 90
Att. 4,810

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/7,057

Match Report

On FA Cup Fourth Round Day, the early round patsies of Dover Athletic met at Priestfield. Aldershot, like their hosts, arrived on a decent run of form, suggesting a good contest should ensue. Sadly, it didn’t, but having played well and lost on Tuesday, Gillingham will be pleased to have emerged with the points from a game in which they did enough to deserve the points.

Cody McDonald, who had chances aplenty to score against the league leaders, Chesterfield, on Tuesday, but failed to find the net was back to his opportunist best and added his 13th and 14th goals of the season.

Danny Spiller was missing with a broken finger and Luke Rooney earned a recall to the starting eleven.

The first half was memorable only in as much that it was instantly forgettable. On a freezing cold afternoon, neither side did much to draw the attention away from the hurt that was being inflicted on the extremities.

Gillingham opened the scoring early in the second half. Curtis Weston, threaded a pass in the direction of Adebayo Akinfenwa, whose dummy allowed McDonald a snap shot which beat the Aldershot keeper, Jamie Young from 10 yards.

Aldershot fashioned their first chance on the hour mark when a Danny Hyllton shot went across the face of the goal. Jermaine McGlashin was at the far post, but failed to make any contact. As the game meandered towards the final whistle and Gillingham supporters thankful for the points from a moderate performance the game sprang to life in the last five minutes and time added on.

Alan Julian produced a spectacular parry from a close range header by Shots skipper, Anthony Charles with a couple of minutes left on the clock and following the subsequent clearance, Barry Fuller crossed into the box, a deflection off visiting defender Ben Herd fell sweetly for McDonald to strike from a similar position to his first goal as the fourth official displayed five minutes of extra time to be played.

As the last minute of that time was entered a fine shot from Alex Rodman, signed during the week from Tamworth, bent wickedly away from the despairing dive of Julian to find the bottom right corner, but there was little time for any comeback.

Following the reversal at Wycombe, Gillingham responded with a 5-1 mauling of basement side Stockport, today far more resilient opposition was encountered but they have once more returned to winning ways at the first opportunity. Winning ugly when necessary can become a good habit and today’s less than fluent performance sees a return to a play-off spot.

Gillingham 0 Chesterfield 2

Match 45/10/863 - Tuesday, 25 January 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Chesterfield (1) 2 Smalley 13, 48
Att. 4,770

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/7,012

Match Report

Disappointing defeat, but no real complaints. Chesterfield arrived as the League leaders and departed with a six point cushion at the top of the table.

Gillingham showed plenty of endeavour, had the lion’s share of both possession and chances, but fell to the old sucker punch of being caught on the break. Chesterfield showed all the qualities required to gain promotion from the bottom tier. Resilient in defence, a goalkeeper whose hands were a magnet to the ball and a front two that caused problems and took two of only three opportunities that were afforded to them.

Curtis Weston ducked a tackle on 13 minutes allowing Manchester City loanee Javan Vidal the freedom of his right flank to cross to an unmarked Deane Smalley who was headed home with ease from the edge of the six yard box. Gillingham instantly replied with a shot from Cody McDonald that was brilliantly turned aside by Chesterfield ‘keeper Tommy Lee. From the resultant corner, Lee was once again called upon to make a fine stop from McDonald’s header.

That set the pattern for the first half; Gillingham dominating possession but chances were going begging or being repelled by Lee at regular intervals.

The second half began with a second goal for the visitors and putting the game almost out of reach of the hosts. A through ball from Dwayne Mattis allowed Smalley a clear run on goal. He rounded Alan Julian and slid the ball into the net, much to the delight of the small contingent of Chesterfield fans soaked by the persistent drizzle. From a distance, Smalley certainly looked offside.

Andy Hessenthaler responded by introducing Luke Rooney, Jack Payne and Stefan Payne into the action. Rooney, looking for a repeat of Saturday’s heroics, volleyed on target but the shot was straight at the perfectly positioned Lee. The goalkeeper was not going to be beaten and further efforts from Akinfenwa, Rooney and Kevin Maher all found the keeper at his frustrating best.

A second defeat in 10 games for the Gills and it is time to dust themselves down and start another run. The positives that can be taken are that they have been far from disgraced against the league leaders and will not come up against their likes too many times between now and May.

Gillingham 1 Northampton Town 0

Match 43/10/861 - Saturday, 15 January 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 1 McDonald 32
Northampton Town (0) 0
Att. 5,613

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/6,497

Match Report


Gillingham overcame difficult windy conditions and the jinx of the Manager of the Month Award to inch themselves into the play-off positions. Their visitors, Northampton Town, had limited resources in attack and asked their club captain, Andy Holt, a defender to lead the front line. Subsequently, they offered very little threat and a long-range shot from Michael Jacobs that was easily gathered by Alan Julian with 10 minutes remaining was their only shot on goal.

Gillingham’s surge up the table during December had earned Andy Hessenthaler the award and he reportedly refused to touch the trophy (which is pretty ugly anyway) for fear of invoking the curse. Such is the strength of the squad at present that, despite last’s week’s five goals at Stockport, it was something of a surprise that an unchanged side was selected with ex-Cobblers favourite Adebayo Akinfenwa sitting it out on the bench.

Gillingham’s path may have been eased as Curtis Weston was offered an early chance, but his shot was blocked by keeper, Chris Dunn. With neither side settling in the conditions, chances were at a premium. Top scorer Cody McDonald saw an effort into the side netting and then forced Dunn into a save before opening the scoring on the half-hour.

A long cross field pass from John Nutter was helped into the box by Danny Spiller, where a cushioned header from Josh Gowling gave McDonald a clear shooting opportunity which he took with ease for his 12th goal of the season.

The second half was much the same as the first with the wind and an over-fussy referee, Trevor Kettle, dominating proceedings. McDonald, had a carbon copy of his opportunity at Wycombe a couple of weeks ago, with unfortunately the same result, this time his lob narrowly clearing the bar. The arrival from the bench of Akinfenwa and Luke Rooney injected a bit of life into the game, big Bayo setting up McDonald and a rocket from Rooney narrowly missing a post.

A free kick into the box that narrowly evaded ex-Gill Dean Beckwith evoked bitter memories of the winning goal at Sixfields back in October, but this time drifted harmlessly wide.

Man of the Match was given to Gowling, who alongside Matt Lawrence, earned his award by controlling the conditions as much as the toothless Northampton attack.

Gillingham 1 Stevenage 0

Match 39/10/857 - Saturday, 1 January 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 1 Akinfenwa 38
Stevenage (0) 0
Att. 5,429

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/6,030

Match Report

Sometimes winning just has to be ugly and this hard-fought victory over Stevenage was one such occasion. It stretched Gillingham’s winning run to five games and installed them in the play-off positions for the first time this season.

A diving header from Adebayo Akinfenwa on 38 minutes was the ultimate difference between two sides that on the day were stronger in defence than attack. Cody McDonald, on another day could have had a hat trick, and some stunning combined defending by Alan Julian and Joe Martin in the closing minutes contributed to the single goal scoreline.

Stevenage set their stall out early in the game when Chris Beardsley was booked for a late tackle on Gills’ skipper Barry Fuller, but overall they were a battling side that will survive their first season in the Football League with something to spare.

Akinfenwa and McDonald’s partnership is blossoming with every game and it was quite significant that on Bayo’s substitution in the 76th minute, McDonald made the point of shaking his hand on his departure. In the 16th minute the partnership produced a one-two that left McDonald advancing on the Stevenage keeper, Chris Day, who narrowed the angle sufficiently to turn away the shot.

Julian was called into action with a good save turning away a Byron Harrison header before the home side opened the scoring. Spiller, having been fed by Akinfenwa, curled in a inch-perfect cross and the big man dived in to score at the near post with a flying header.

The second half saw chances for McDonald to get onto the score sheet, but it just wasn’t his day. A superb block from Luke Foster denied him on one occasion, he should have done a whole lot better with a free header from a Spiller corner and twice more spurned chances.

Stevenage mounted a spirited effort to rescue a point in the final stages and when Alan Julian, fine save though it was, only parried to Ben May, it looked a certainty that the striker would equalise but a fantastic block from Martin, who had reverted to full back following John Nutter’s substitution saved the day.

Not convincing, certainly not pretty, but no Gillingham supporter left Priestfield complaining that they had been short-changed by commitment, something that was severely questioned little more than a month ago.

Gillingham 3 Port Vale 0

Match 38/10/856 - Tuesday, 28 December 2010 - League Two

Gillingham (2) 3 McDonald 1, 37 Akinfenwa 60
Port Vale (0) 0
Att. 5,364

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,985

Match Report

Although I’ve been penning this blog for the past four years it is only recently that I found the stats page that reveals that browsers in several countries have stumbled across this page whether by accident or design. It would be nice to think that the viewers in footballing hotbeds such as Brazil (34 page views), Holland (91 page views) and Germany (173 page views) have found their way in search of football content rather than accidently finding the page whilst looking for an old David Essex film of the same name.

My reason for beginning this review of Gillingham’s Christmas fixture against Port Vale with such details are that far-flung countries of the world may not have realised that a mere four inches of snow in the United Kingdom can bring the country to a standstill and decimate the sporting calendar in the meantime. So to those of you in the United States (an impressive 285 views) that have two feet of the white stuff and still function, this is why there have been no postings since Macclesfield on 11th December. Two home postponements and an away fixture at Aldershot scheduled for Boxing Day fell to the weather as have all Tonbridge’s fixtures in the same period.

So it was with much relief that the freezing temperatures started to relent on Boxing Day and come the 28th December had reached the balmy heights of 4degC. The frost covers at Priestfield Stadium had protected the ground and no inspection was needed for the game to go ahead as scheduled. After a successful three game winning sequence on the road, it was hoped that the lack of action would not curtail the momentum that had been achieved.

There was to be no sign of rustiness as Cody McDonald needed only 40 seconds to fire Gillingham into the lead from just inside the box. Port Vale, who came to Priestfield with an impressive defensive record having only conceded 10 goals in 19 League games, were looking to regain the top spot from the frozen out league leaders, Chesterfield but showed, or were not allowed to show any of the form that took them to the higher reaches of the Division.

The dangerous Marc and Justin Richards partnership were being well marshalled by the ever-improving Josh Gowling, who before his loan move to Lincoln led to my own derision of being one of the worst defenders to pull on a Gillingham shirt, and the ever-reliable Matt Lawrence.

Leading the line was the imposing figure of Adebayo Akinfenwa and the Port Vale back line really had no idea on how to contain him and it came as no surprise that he was involved in the 37th minute goal for McDonald to put the home side two in front. His control and pass to a surging Barry Fuller allowed the Gills skipper to send a pass across the face of the goal to be met by McDonald who scored from close range.

The start of the second half saw the same three characters involved once more which culminated in McDonald hitting a post and Akinfenwa putting the rebound just wide.

Andy Barcham made a welcome return to the line-up as a 54th minute substitute for debut-making Joe Martin who suffered a head wound that required six stitches.

On the hour Akinfenwa got the goal that his performance richly deserved. A long throw from Curtis Weston was met by Lawrence whose shot was parried into the path of the big striker who powered home from the edge of the six yard box to make the game safe for the Gills.

In the closing half-hour Barcham had some encouraging moments that gave hope that the loss of Whelpdale will be counter-acted by the return of the player of the year.

So we go into 2011 with renewed hope that Gillingham will push on into the play-off positions and might still threaten the top three places. To all my readers in far-flung corners of the globe, keep bringing the page to your screens and have a Happy New Year.

Gillingham 1 Crewe Alexandra 3

Match 32/10/850 - Saturday, 13 November 2010 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 Whelpdale 52
Crewe Alexandra (2) 3 Moore 38, Donaldson 45, Miller 70
Att. 5,292

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,960

Match Report

It is a well worn phrase that under pressure managers trundle out, “that when at the bottom of the table, the rub of the green doesn’t go your way”, it can often be heard as a whinge. On Saturday, Gillingham might not have deserved anything, but they certainly had none of the rub.

Three new loan signings and a 17 year-old debutant in the centre of defence were introduced as Andy Hessenthaler set about repairing the damage inflicted by last week’s FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Dover. Ultimately a spirited effort ended in defeat by Crewe Alexandra and left the club on the very edge of the relegation zone, above the line by goal difference.

Callum Davies, youth team captain, pressed into the side in the absence of the injured Matt Lawrence made a bright start to his debut, won some important headers and generally looked comfortable in the face of an attack that has scored plenty this season. But on 28 minutes a through ball left the youngster exposed in a one-on-one situation with the pacy Clayton Donaldson, who was getting clear before being brought down. My first impression was that he had to go, but television viewing has shown that loanee Callum Kennedy was getting round as cover. This viewpoint was given further credit on Sunday as Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic committed a near identical foul but was spared the red card by the proximity of Ashley Cole. It is regularly argued that the Premiership’s top four get dealt a better hand by referees but it showed the sheer inconsistency of decisions. The kid was distraught and was comforted by Alex players as well as his team mates as he left the field in tears.

Crewe had started the game brightly with a Luke Murphy chip catching Alan Julian off his line and fortunate to see the ball rebound from the bar. From the start the lively Donaldson was copping also sorts of abuse for his Mohican-style haircut, and once he was involved in the sending off the decibels were increased but he was going to have the last laugh.

Crewe hit the woodwork again before they opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a stroke of good fortune. A cross from Matt Tootle evaded the head of the second of the loanees, Charlie Lee and, caught by surprise, the ball literally struck Byron Moore on the head and found its way into the corner of the net.

Gillingham reacted well to the set-back, Cody McDonald had a goal ruled out for offside before keeper Rhys Taylor made good stops from the third of the loanees, Chris Whelpdale and Kevin Maher.

On the stroke of half time, Donaldson exacted revenge on his detractors getting on the end of a pass from Moore and steering the ball past Julian to double the visitors advantage.

Gillingham set about retrieving the situation from the outset of the second half and Whelpdale forced Taylor into another fine save before he met a Chris Palmer corner at the far post with a header to looped into the far corner.

Adebayo Akinfenwa, having his most effective game for the club, saw a header once more acrobatically tipped over by the Chelsea loanee, Taylor as the home side brought the best out of a crowd inflated to 5,200 by cut-price ticket offers.

Unfortunately the need for attacking intention was eventually going to lead to the home side being caught by a counter attack and a single pass forward allowed Shaun Miller a run on goal and he finished expertly from just inside the box to kill off the game.

The final whistle didn’t bring about a torrent of boos as the vast majority had recognised the spirit that had been displayed in adversity. The loan players, Chris Whelpdale in particular, had made decent debuts and the likes of Barry Fuller and Tony Sinclair recovered some of the faith lost in last week’s debacle.

Luck, good or bad, doesn’t last forever and someday, hopefully sooner rather than later, Gillingham’s will turn for the better. They sit now at an all-time low of 90th position in the Football League during the reign of Paul Scally. With two upcoming fixtures away from home it is not inconceivable that the ultimate indignity of 92nd place may be attained, perhaps Lady Luck will see otherwise.

Gillingham 0 Dover Athletic 2

Match 30/10/848 - Saturday, 6 November 2010 - FA Cup 1st Round

Gillingham (0) 0
Dover Athletic (2) 2 Birchall 18, I'Anson 28
Att. 7,454

Entrance: £15
Programme: £3
Mileage: 46/4,889

Match report comes from Dover

From the moment Fat Boy Slim and Hells Bells drew the numbers 19 and 70 from the velvet bag there has been a sense of inevitability about the outcome of this First Round Tie. For Dover, it was, in chairman Jim Parmenter’s words, compensation and for their fans who filled the Brian Moore Stand it was revenge.

The events of the summer left a bad taste in the mouth at Crabble and there were more than a few of the Priestfield faithful who felt a bit sheepish about the way Hessenthaler’s appointment was executed. So coming into the game on the back of poor results the sense of retribution was trumpeted from all corners.

And so it came to pass . . .

On the day, for whatever reason, Dover came to Gillingham with more passion, more hunger, more skill and left thoroughly deserving of their 2-0 victory while the home side were left red-faced, humiliated with the wrath of their fans ringing in their ears.

Where Gillingham had the hapless, no hopeless, John Nutter, Dover had the excellent Tom Wynter, released by Gillingham in the summer. Where Gillingham had a fragile central defence, Dover had the absolutely magnificent Olly Schultz and Rob Gillman and while Cody McDonald struggled to make an impression, Dover striker Adam Birchall scored a classic FA Cup goal. Finally, when Gillingham mounted a second half recovery effort, Ross Flitney stood firm with a series of saves.

Dover took the lead on 18 minutes, the only Gillingham player who could leave the ground with his head held high Jack Payne lost possession in midfield, Birchall cut in from the right and unleashed a 30 yard shot into the top corner that had Alan Julian clutching thin air.

Ten minutes later Dover doubled their lead in somewhat controversial circumstances. Elliott Charles clearly handled the ball following Julian’s parry of Harry Baker’s shot, the ball fell to Luke I’Anson who drove the ball into the net. It was dubious but no more than the non-leaguers deserved.

As much as Gillingham pressured during the second half the saves that Flitney made were more of the routine variety than the sensational. With 20 minutes remaining Baker was sent clear and Nutter was forced to bring him down for the final humiliation of a red card. For Nutter this has been a torrid week, taken apart by an ageing Gareth Ainsworth on Tuesday and run ragged by a non league winger, Harry Baker, on Saturday. Forgive Tom Wynter if he thought “was I really that bad”?

The last manager to face Paul Scally following defeat at the hands of non-league opposition was Neale Cooper after defeat at Burscough. He didn’t survive. Hess probably will, he doesn’t want to resign and Scally will not want to sack him, financially as well as personally. Next Saturday, back in League action, Crewe Alexandra, themselves dumped out of the Cup at Tamworth, are the visitors. For everybody, but Hessenthaler principally, a reaction needs to be seen. Paul Scally cannot allow this situation to worsen, the trap door bears no favours.

On Tuesday, further down the M2, as Dover supporters gather (not in their thousands, I would guess!) for their Blue Square South game against Dartford, one word will be heavy in the conversation . . . Revenge!

Gillingham 0 Wycombe Wanderers 2

Match 29/10/847 - Tuesday, 2 November 2010 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Wycombe Wanderers (1) 2 Ainsworth 23, Betsy 49
Att. 4,076

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 46/4,843

Match Report

This was a real shocker that will have Gillingham fans looking over their shoulder, not just at a league table that sees them just two points from the relegation positions, but also the potential of a hugely embarrassing FA Cup defeat at home to the club that Andy Hessenthaler walked away from in June, Dover Athletic.

Wycombe Wanderers came to Priestfield in good form, whilst Gillingham’s confidence was fragile to say the least. Once the visitors had sliced the Gillingham defence apart on 23 minutes allowing Gareth Ainsworth to open the scoring, there was only going to be one winner in the contest and Wycombe went on to thoroughly outplay their hosts.

Ainsworth is now 37 years of age, he has plied his trade for the best part of 20 years outside of the top flight and had a spell as caretaker manager of Queens Park Rangers on two occasions in the last couple of years. Last night, he looked like a 17 year old as he pissed past John Nutter time and time again. It was satisfyingly respectful that on his substitution with seconds remaining he was warmly applauded from the field by the home support as well as the small knot of Wycombe fans.

The defeat tumbles Gillingham to 20th position in League Two, their lowest for 15 years. Any confidence that remained ebbed away with the opening goal and the level of ineptitude was quite frightening. Only Alan Julian, who kept the score down to two; Cody McDonald, and to a lesser extent, Jack Payne can hold up their heads with any pride in a 6 out of 10 sort of way.

Wycombe shredded Gillingham’s back line as they exposed the hapless Nutter and Barry Fuller on both flanks, with no protection coming from a woeful midfield. Danny Spiller should have seen red for an ugly lunge and Dennis Oli looked to be running through treacle from the early stages. In attack, McDonald might have had a productive evening if only he had a modicum of help. The lumbering Akinfenwa is doing nothing to dispel the ever-growing feeling that he is just an overweight misfit for which the club is paying far too much money.

The optimism that greeted Andy Hessenthaler’s appointment has now disappeared and has been replaced by anger as graffiti daubed on a neighbouring fence implored him and Chairman Scally to go. The club has seen too many managers already since relegation from the Championship in 2005 and the subsequent steady decline to this new low. Now is not the time for a knee jerk reaction, we are only in November and just 15 games into the season, but the poor form has to be reversed quickly. Scally stood by Mark Stimson after the dreadful performance in February against Tranmere, form didn’t improve and Gillingham were ultimately relegated. A similar scenario this season would see the trap door opening and nobody at the club should be thinking that it cannot happen, just ask the fans of Wrexham and Cambridge United who have been stuck in non-league for several years, or previous League Cup winners, Luton and Oxford, who have only just made it back.

Injuries have not allowed Hessen thaler to pick a side of his choice at any time this season. Central defence has been a real problem and Simon King and Garry Richards have not been available at all, both are nearing the end of long absences and will surely strengthen this weak spot. Danny Jackman has similarly seen little action and his return would put real pressure on Nutter. Centre midfield can only improve with the return of Curtis Weston and the pace of Andy Barcham has been desperately missed. The biggest squad in the Division should have been good enough to cover these absences, sadly the back-up has not been up to the task.

Such was the desperate nature of the performance against Wycombe that a 16-year-old, Ashley Miller, was thrown into the action with 20 minutes remaining. It was a far from ideal introduction, team playing poorly, crowd on their back and a game that was virtually lost. The youngster made a couple of good runs with the ball that lifted the crowd momentarily. As ever with Gillingham, conspiracy theories abound, Miller being introduced into first team action to lift his price as Liverpool are reported to be about to sign the lad.

The players cannot really be accused of not trying for Hessenthaler but there is a complete lack of confidence that manifests itself into bad decision making, a desperation that leads to long, high upfield punts that are not the service that it required by the strikers. McDonald is not tall, he needs the ball played to feet, Akinfenwa cannot get that massive frame off the ground, so he needs it to feet as well. There are brief glimpses of what this set of players can achieve, for example those magic 15 minutes at Northampton, when the ball sees the grass and players exercise a bit of movement, but as quickly as the confidence appears to return it disappears.

All this is going to be music to the ears of the 2,500 Dover fans that will pack out the Brian Moore Stand on Saturday, bent on retribution for the perceived betrayal of the man that lifted their club two divisions during his tenure. For Hessenthaler, a win is more important than FA Cup progress alone, quality can wait for another day.

Gillingham 1 Torquay United 1

Match 26/10/844 - Saturday, 23 October 2010 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 McDonald 80
Torquay United (0) 1 Nicholson 90+5
Att. 5,345

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,303

Match Report

Back in 1998, The Mavericks had a single “Dance The Night Away” that reached Number 4 in the UK charts. It wasn’t a ground breaking song that people will remember what they were doing with their lives at that particular period, but I recall it as a song that I considered lucky. If I heard it played on the radio on the way to a Gillingham game, I would sing along almost safe in the knowledge that the Gills were about to win the match, and invariably they did.

Radio Kent played the song as their opening track to their Saturday Sport programme and I thought that’s it, thank you Matt Davison, job done. When Alan Julian touched a kiss to the bar and then a post in gratitude that the woodwork had come to his rescue my faith in the old song remained firm. But Julian’s luck was about to run out. In the fifth minute of time added on, three minutes that were extended by the sending off of Torquay’s Lee Mansell, a free kick on the edge of the box was driven through the wall by Kevin Nicholson. Julian allowed the shot to squirm from his grasp and agonisingly the ball crossed the line.

It was a poor piece of goalkeeping but it was hard on Julian who otherwise had a good game. A decent stop and a very good reaction save in a matter of seconds after five minutes denied the visitors an early lead and his handling and judgement had been sound for the entire match.

At the other end, Torquay’s 6’5” custodian Scott Bevan spent his afternoon cherry picking as cross after cross fell invitingly into his safe hands. Chris Palmer had a reasonable game, but just how many of his crosses saw Bevan put his hands above his head and watch the ball drop into them.

Cody McDonald returned to the starting line-up with Mark Bentley dropping down to the bench and it was his 30th minute effort that was turned away by Bevan that produced the best chance of the half for the home side.

Alan Julian’s first kiss to his woodwork came within the first minute of the second half following Chris Zebroski's acrobatic effort that rebounded off the bar with the keeper beaten and when Barry Fuller was forced to clear from in front of the goal line the home side had endured an uncomfortable opening five minutes much like the beginning of the first half.

Danny Spiller came on as substitute for Kevin Maher and he was instrumental as Gillingham ratcheted up the pressure on Torquay. He had a wayward shot and from his cross in the 80th minute Akinfenwa struck a bar with a header. Not to be denied, Spiller’s next cross found McDonald who scissor-kicked a volley from around the penalty spot. It was a true striker’s goal, he had a marker within a yard, but that space was enough.

Torquay rather lost their discipline as four players were yellow-carded within the space of five or six minutes. But with a couple of minutes remaining, Julian was kissing woodwork again as Billy Kee touched a cross onto the inside of a post and as the ball looked to be rebounding over the line, Julian hooked it to safety.

Into injury time and the referee decided that Mansell had dived in the pursuit of a penalty and his yellow became a red. The time added on for the dismissal was ultimately crucial as Matt Lawrence gave away a free kick on the edge of the box and Nicholson’s strike embarrassed Julian.

It was a sickener for Gillingham, unfortunately for Andy Hessenthaler it had been sickening from half time as he was absent from the bench for the entire second half with an illness bug.

The next time I hear the Mavericks, I won’t feel any less confident, it’s served me well in the past and anyway it’s a good tune to sing along to at the traffic lights.

Gillingham 2 Stockport County 1

Match 23/10/841 - Saturday, 9th October 2010 - League Two

Gillingham (2) 2 McDonald 2, J Payne 38
Stockport County (0) 1 Pulis 81
Att. 4,755

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,610

Match Report

One of the most common excuses for poor form and lack of consistency are injuries. Andy Hessenthaler has commented, but not used it as an excuse for Gillingham’s indifferent start to the season. Fact is, Gillingham have had no luck with injuries in this early part of the season and today’s game against Stockport County was a perfect indication of the problems they have faced.

Following last week’s drubbing at the hands of Accrington Stanley, Danny Spiller was added to the list and Adebayo Akinfenwa and Curtis Weston were expected to sit out the game but passed fitness tests only to fail to make the full 90 minutes.

The indication of the disruption was the difference in the halves. In the first half Gillingham played some of the best football we have seen this season, they passed the ball well and scored two goals leaving them in complete control of the game. But the second half saw the departure of Akinfenwa, who pulled up presumably as a result of the groin strain he brought into the game and Weston, who has been the victim of flu as well as a thigh injury. Matt Lawrence was forced from the field for a 10 minute period to have a head wound stitched and the enforced changes produced a disjointed performance that had them hanging on desperately at the finish to claim the points.

Lance Cronin made way in goal for the returning Alan Julian, illness accounted for Josh Gowling’s absence from the bench, but after last week’s debacle he would surely have been dropped in favour of Tony Sinclair. Mark Bentley was suspended and replaced by Kevin Maher and John Nutter made a welcome return to left back allowing Chris Palmer to move forward into left midfield.

Gillingham started with a fluency that belied that performance at Accrington. In the opening seconds Cody McDonald, sent through by his partner Akinfenwa, was hacked down by Danny Swailes, who took a yellow card for the team. Palmer’s free kick was deflected over the bar but from the resultant corner McDonald got between two defenders to score with a firm header that went in off the post.

Palmer was showing the value of being played in midfield rather than at full back where he is a liability. His corner in the 22nd minute was met by Akinfenwa, whose header was cleared from the line by David Poole. But Palmer was not to be denied, another superb cross found McDonald in front of goal, the striker knocked the ball forward only for Matt Glennon to parry the ball into the path of Jack Payne who swept the ball home from close range for his first senior goal for the club.

The first substitution of the match was referee Graham Horwood who limped out of the action with a calf strain. His replacement took a farsical length of time and eventually a half time call for a qualified referee to take on the role as fourth official was answered by Gills kit man, Malcolm Stedman. The newly promoted referee’s first action involved the booking of Anthony Pulis, son of the ex-Gillingham manager, Tony for a agricultural sything tackle on Akinfenwa.

Gillingham’s second half problems started in the 52nd minute when Akinfenwa limped out of the action with a recurrence of his groin injury. Within a couple of minutes, Matt Lawrence sustained a head injury forcing him to the dressing room for stitches. Hessenthaler decided to play on with 10 men whilst the central defender was patched up. It was 12 minutes before Lawrence returned, head bandaged in true Terry Butcher fashion.

Stockport took advantage of the disruption to the home side’s ranks and exerted ever more pressure on a defence that had never looked completely assured. A mistake from Lawrence allowed George Donnelly a chance that was well saved by Julian, but with nine minutes remaining the striker set up Pulis to score and herald a nervy finale. The Gills kit man rebuffed calls for one minute to be shown on the board and a justified five minutes were added and that became six, but the home side survived without Julian being seriously tested in the remaining time.

The result puts Accrington and Bury behind us, but they are never going to be truly in the past until that away hoodoo is put to rest. Port Vale, top of the table, next week . . . a touch of Murphy's law perhaps?

Gillingham 0 Southend United 0

Match 21/10/839 - Tuesday, 28th September 2010 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Southend United (0) 0
Att. 4,925

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/2,973

Match Report

Even a rubbish game deserves a mention . . .