Burton Albion (1) 1 Winnall 26
Gillingham (0) 1 McDonald 77
Att. 3,230
Entrance: £13
Programme: Sold Out
Mileage: 400/8,542
New Ground: 240
Match Report
Gillingham would not have needed to be at their best to win on their first-ever visit to the Pirelli Stadium, but they were poor and needed a brilliant piece of individualism to rescue a point against a Burton side that perhaps are falsely positioned because they have so many games in hand but occupy a relegation threatening position in League Two.On a lovely, warm spring-like day that felt like winter had finally been left behind, Gillingham failed once more to leave their winter draws on sequence to bed. As has been said several times in this column in recent weeks, these draws are really killing the automatic promotion bid. This was a missed opportunity on the pitch and away from it, defeats for Bury and Rotherham, Shrewsbury and Wycombe sharing the points, there was a real chance to make up ground.
Early chances were few and far between with Gillingham holding the balance of play. Matt Lawrence had a header from a corner that was smuggled to safety via a post and Cody McDonald pulled a shot wide before Burton went ahead in the 26th minute. There was no apparent danger as Andy Corbett lifted a cross from the right hand side into the visitor’s box, the centre of the defence went missing leaving Sam Winnall the easiest of headers that found the net despite Alan Julian getting a hand on the ball.
There was a late first half chance for Andy Barcham, who saw his effort cleared away by Scott Malone with the keeper beaten as the break was entered with Gillingham still in arrears.
The second half progressed in much the same vein. Gillingham bossing in terms of possession but Adam Legzdins wasn’t being stretched. Fifteen minutes from the end, Cody McDonald’s 20th goal of the season was a moment of brilliance in contrast to the mundane that had gone before. Dennis Oli, on as substitute nodded on Julian’s upfield punt, McDonald lifted the ball over defender Tony James and spectacularly hammered past the keeper.
When Burton were reduced to 10 men following an injury to Malone there was a further opportunity for the visitors to claim the points, but a Garry Richards header that drifted wide was the only chance to win the game.
A couple of years into their Football League lifetime, the Pirelli Stadium is more than adequate for their needs. Purely functional, as they say, it does what it says on the tin. Fully covered with standing on three sides, it is not a building of beauty. It was good to stand and at £13 a cheap ticket. A large car park, another bargain at £2, was easily exited. One black mark was the lack of a programme, sold out at 2.30 p.m., it beats me that enough programmes cannot be printed for a crowd of just 3,200.
Special mention on the day goes to the Friendly Fryer Fish and Chip Shop on Derby Road who wins our award for the best fish and chips of the season so far, with not too many away days to come.
And the award for the Chip Shop of Season 2010-11 goes too . . .
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