Gillingham (0) 0
Bury (0) 0
Att. 8,360
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/8,059
Match Report
So it transpires that should this season end with reward it will have to be done at Wembley Stadium, not such a bad place to celebrate. Experience of playing on a dodgy pitch all winter might prove valuable on a field of dreams supposedly worse than Priestfield.Gillingham’s hopes of retaining interest in automatic promotion until the last day of season fell short by the width of a post and some resolute defending by their fellow challengers from Greater Manchester, but to adopt a northern phrase, Gillingham gave it “a reet good go”.
Priestfield’s highest attendance of the season, 8,360, did their very best to suck the ball into the net in front of the Rainham End in a second half onslaught from the home side that became ever more frantic as the time ebbed away, but lacked the necessary quality to create a really clear cut chance.
As befitted two teams sitting fourth and fifth in the table, three points apart, there was very little between the two teams in a first half that was absorbing with some early goalmouth action. Andy Barcham and Mark McCammon were comfortably denied by Bury keeper Wayne Brown and the home custodian, Simon Royce was forced into a good one-handed save from Glynn Hurst. Midway through the half, McCammon had a clear heading opportunity but directed his header straight at Brown.
Both sets of supporters eagerly awaited news from Exeter and this proved to be good as visitors Morecambe held a one goal lead at half-time, the automatic gate to League One was still open.
Perhaps buoyed by the news, Bury started the second half with a fresh impetus and from the restart they made their best chance of the game. Andy Bishop, with time and space, directed a free header well wide of the post. It was not the effort of a striker with 16 goals to his credit this season.
Following that sharp intake of breath, the Gillingham fans rose to the challenge and as the noise inside Priestfield rose, so did the attacking intentions of the home side. A John Nutter cross somehow managed to evade everybody when the merest touch from attacker or defender would probably have produced a goal.
Dennis Oli was introduced into the fray for Josh Wright and a chance was made for Simeon Jackson who pulled his shot narrowly wide. On 72 minutes the thickness of the post became the ultimate decider of Gillingham’s end of season destiny. Another Nutter cross was headed back to Stuart Lewis by McCammon, the ginger midfielder volleyed from 20 yards but the ball agonisingly rebounded off the woodwork. It was the closest Gillingham were to come to victory.
Our old friend, Efe Sodje, who enjoyed a mixed reception from the home support, proved too strong for Jackson as the striker attempted to get clear on goal with ten minutes remaining and the deadlock remained unbroken.
Whilst a point was of no use to the home side, Bury will go into next Saturday’s final day hoping that a win over Accrington Stanley will be enough to earn them a place in League One. Meanwhile, Gillingham will travel to nearby Rochdale hoping to gain the point required to avoid a repeat 500-mile round trip to Spotland for a 6.30 p.m. kick off on a Sunday evening. A win over the Lancastrians could have the added bonus of a far less arduous trip to Dagenham and Redbridge, although a repeat of the Boxing Day shambles at Victoria Road would put in serious doubt a visit to the not-so hallowed turf of the national stadium.
No comments:
Post a Comment