Wycombe Wanderers (1) 1 Akinde 41
Gillingham (0) 0
Att. 6,306
Entrance: £16
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 177/7,492
Match Report
Gillingham’s hopes of automatic promotion realistically hit the rocks on a cow patch of a pitch at Adams Park this afternoon. A host of missed second half chances including a penalty kick was their final undoing as they battered their hosts in a stirring, but fruitless, second half display.Gillingham fans travelled in numbers to Wycombe’s home set amongst the rolling Buckinghamshire hills and were in fine voice prior to kick off. They were almost immediately silenced as Chris Zebrowski hit a post after just three minutes. Referee Lee Mason failed to spot a clear handball by the ex-Millwall forward prior to the attempt and it was not to be the last time that the Premiership referee got it wrong.
Simon King was forced from the field after just nine minutes with a cut head and it was fully 12 minutes before he was to return after presumably some emergency needlework. Anxious eyes continually were attracted to the player’s tunnel as Mark McCammon filled in at centre half and Wycombe pressed to make the most of their man advantage. Finally, King returned in a numberless, nameless shirt and this caused a brief moment of amusement within a couple of minutes when a challenge was deemed worthy of a booking by the confetti-carding Mason, who asked for the defender to turn his back to show the plainness of his shirt.
Despite Gillingham surviving their 10 man period without any great scare, the home side finally made the breakthrough with five minutes of the half remaining. This time last year, John Akinde was a Kentish hero (at least in non-league circles) with a fine display at Wembley for Ebbsfleet in their winning FA Trophy side including laying on the winner. Today he was to turn into the villain, sliding the ball past Simon Royce having been on the end of a superb through ball from Lee Sawyer. Gillingham’s half-hearted appeals for offside were brushed aside. On the balance of play, Wycombe just about deserved their half-time lead.
Gillingham attacked the goal behind which their fans were massed with increased vigour from the outset of the second half. Chairboys’ keeper Jamie Young was forced into his first save of the afternoon, comfortably fielding a low shot from Simeon Jackson. Within a couple of minutes Jackson was offered the opportunity to level the scores after he was brought down in the box. Referee Mason initially waved away the penalty appeal, but a linesman’s flag brought about a change of mind. Much dispute ensued, another yellow was brandished and a couple of minutes elapsed before Jackson, usually secure from the spot, blasted the ball high over the bar to spurn the golden opportunity.
I got the sense that having been made to look foolish by his linesman’s decision to flag for the penalty, Gillingham, and Simeon Jackson in particular, could have played for a fortnight and not got another decision from Mr Mason. On three occasions I felt they had better claims for a penalty than the one that was awarded and in the process Jackson picked up a booking for diving.
The game was now completely one-way traffic, but in the spirit of fair reporting, it has to be said that Wycombe defended superbly and one block from Tommy Doherty was outstanding. Curtis Weston had a header comfortably dealt with by Young and a John Nutter free kick was only a whisker over.
Much joy was taken by the Gillingham simpletons at the substitution of Adam Miller who showed as much endeavour in midfield as any of his counterparts. Miller unfortunately, but almost understandably, reacted towards his detractors as he made his way to the bench.
When the final whistle sounded, Gillingham’s second half effort had come to nothing and with it came the realisation that this also ended the all-but mathematical chance of automatic promotion. The poor run of results of recent, just one point from their last four games needs to be arrested beginning with Easter Monday’s home fixture against Dagenham, if they are, at least, to make the play-offs with the dream of a Wembley return.
Adams Park is nice looking stadium with a backdrop of the Buckinghamshire hills that belies the fact that it based at the end of a business park. It is dominated by one large stand, quite similar in appearance to our Medway Stand. The away support were based in an all seated area behind a goal and the view was unobstructed and the leg room good. Behind the other goal Wycombe fans stand on a covered terrace. The club promotes a community spirit with welcoming officials and, quite uniquely, a programme especially for the away support with a picture of a visiting player, Andy Barcham on this occasion, adorning the cover. The pitch, however, shows the effect of Wasps playing rugby union on it. The grass seemed overly long and the bounce was far from true.
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