Gillingham (0) 1 Southall 58
AFC Bournemouth (0) 0
Att. 5,353
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,530
Match Report
Gillingham emerged from this turgid encounter with the points and a re-entry into the division’s play-off spots. But if it looked hard work for the players in the spring-like sunshine, then it was just as difficult viewing for the paying customer.The first half was a complete nightmare. It took Gillingham fully 20 minutes just to carry the ball over the half-way line, just a few aimless punts forward had taken the ball into opposition territory. Relegation-threatened, points deducted Bournemouth enjoyed the vast majority of the possession in this time, but they failed to test Simon Royce. A Mark Bentley header was comfortably held by keeper Shwan Jalal, but at least it showed a modicum of intent. The half continued in much the same vein, Bournemouth controlling most of the ball, but the couple of easily held efforts on goal came from Gillingham, until Simon Royce was forced into the only meaningful save of the half when he palmed away a Molesley shot.
The whistle relieved the supporters of the drudgery giving them the excitement of a Madness record and the 50/50 draw to look forward to, such was the paucity of the entertainment. Talk at half time centred around as to why Mark Stimson was choosing to play (a) so narrow, (b) Rene Steer at all, and (c) whether he would have the courage to admit he was wrong on both counts and change it immediately. No, was the answer to (c).
But, in fairness to Stimson, he at least decided early that enough was enough and as if to prove all those that had made those comments during the break correct, instant dividends were paid. The hapless Steer was replaced by John Nutter and Simeon Jackson replaced Adam Miller, much to the pleasure of the Miller baiters. Within three minutes of the 55th minute substitutions, Jackson chased a ball down the right hand side and passed across the face of the goal where there was nobody in a central position. Andy Barcham managed to keep the ball in play on the left hand side and went past a couple of defenders on the bye-line to pass the ball back to Nicky Southall who side-footed home. It was an excellent bit of work from Barcham, who caused us to hold our breath later on when he received attention and hobbled for the closing minutes. Such is Barcham’s form that he would be one of the biggest losses should we lose him for any length of time in the run-in.
Gillingham had much better possession for the rest of the game. They seemed more balanced with Nutter and Barcham adding a bit of width to the left hand side and Fuller making good ground on the right. The game wound itself down with a series of niggling challenges from Bournemouth that necessitated the Gillingham physio onto the pitch on four occasions.
Seven goals in the previous two matches might give Stimson justification for his employment of the 4-3-3 formation and the inclusion of Mark McCammon naturally leads to a more direct style, but it has not been pretty and has led to all sorts of problems defensively. The improvement today was there for all to see once the home side reverted to 4-4-2. By the end of the game, Gillingham just about deserved the points and with results going their way, tonight they occupy sixth place.
As we embark on a very difficult March, with five away games and our two home matches against fellow promotion hopefuls, it might be as well to remember that despite the entertainment having been at a very low level, six points have been gained and if we can win ugly for the upcoming month then the majority of us will gladly accept it.
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