Luton Town (0) 0
Gillingham (0) 0
Att. 5,353
Entrance: £20
Programme: £3
Mileage: 200/5,939
Match Report
On a filthy night in Bedfordshire, it was the weather conditions that prevailed at Kenilworth Road. Heavy rain, driven by a gale force wind served up a game of two halves with the home side the unluckier of the two to come away with just a point.Gillingham retained John Nutter, relegating Rene Steer to the bench and with Andy Barcham failing a fitness test, leading scorer Simeon Jackson was restored to the starting eleven.
Ten minutes before the game started it appeared that our journey might be fruitless as the floodlights failed plunging the stadium into darkness. Thankfully the power was restored and the game started with just a minor delay.
Gillingham had to face the elements in the first half and Luton carried the game to them to make the most of the advantage brought about by the wind. I wouldn’t wish injury on any player but I have to admit to having an inward thought that it might not be such a bad thing if Sam Parkin, the big Luton front man, continued his absence, unfortunately it was not to be and it took only a minute for him to terrorise the defence and shoot just wide of the mark. As it was, fast-forwarding to the end of the game, Mark Bentley and Simon King both did a sterling job in containing Parkin, a major threat.
It was to be a continuous rearguard action for the Gills as the best two players on the pitch, Tom Craddock and Chris Martin, tested a hard-pressed defence. Martin in particular was getting a lot of joy in his match-up against Barry Fuller, but full credit must go to the Gills skipper who stuck at his task and in the second half with the conditions favouring Gillingham, Martin was less of a threat.
Chances came and went for the Hatters with Craddock instrumental in everything they created and it was Craddock himself that hit a post three minutes before the break in front of the 440 Gillingham fans holding their breath. Those fans welcomed the half time whistle with a cheer that was borne more out of relief than joy.
If anything the conditions worsened as the game went on and this benefited Gillingham. Now it was their turn to take control of the game. Dennis Oli, whose pace had been the defining outlet for Gillingham blasted a good chance high into the stands but with 20 minutes to go had to be substituted through injury and our best chance of coming away with the three points probably departed with him.
Despite having the worst of the second half conditions the best two chances fell to Luton and, of course, to Tom Craddock. Firstly sent through on goal by Parkin, Simon Royce somehow managed to smother and Fuller hack clear and then entering the final minute after Gillingham had only managed to clear a corner to the edge of the box the ball fell to Craddock who blazed into the stands, much to the travelling supports relief.
So an away draw against the bottom side might not be seen by a casual observer as a point gained, but we all know different. Luton Town are a club that would undoubtedly been pushing to play-off spots had they not suffered the huge points deduction and then there is the historical factor of 40 years of hurt at Kenilworth Road. It is a ground where we never win and will now probably not break that hoodoo.
I’ve banged on in this blog about the character of old grounds as against the blandness of the new-builds, character is a word that might be used for Kenilworth Road, but the place is a complete dump. The viewing for the away support is as bad as anywhere with pillars in the way and the rake of the terrace shallow. The seats are bolted onto the old standing terraces and make for a knee-chewing experience. With Luton destined to spend at least a season in the Conference and a new ground having been long planned, it might be that this is the last time we pay Kenilworth Road a visit, and apart from a decent fish and chip shop, not many will mourn its passing.
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