Gillingham 1 Aldershot 0

Match 39/11/926 - Monday, 2 January 2012 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 Jackman 46
Aldershot (0) 0
Att. 5,432

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 45/3,069

Match Report

Gillingham recovered from their New Year hangover and the disappointing defeat at Dagenham to win a hard-fought three points against Aldershot. Over the Christmas period they have probably got the point’s total that could have been reasonably expected. From two away games they won the one they expected to lose and lost the one they expected to win and added the home win to round off the festive season.

The opening half of this encounter was a turgid affair with the only incidents of note being a booking for Joe Martin after just 40 seconds and two opportunities for Gillingham defenders Matt Lawrence and Andy Frampton that were spurned. Martin’s booking was to eventually culminate in his sending off following a second yellow on the hour mark. It could be argued that a referee leaves himself nowhere to go if he brandishes the card so early and for the defender’s first challenge, but it was a foul that would have earned a card later in the game, so in my opinion the referee called it right.

Gillingham came quickly out of the blocks in the second half and were ahead in the first minute in a move that took on the guise of a gentleman’s excuse me. Lewis Montrose set up a chance for Curtis Weston who decided he could not find a clear shooting opportunity so passed it onto Danny Kedwell, who also tried to fashion a shot but decided it wasn’t for him, so one final pass went to Danny Jackman who found the space and the angle to tuck a shot past Shots keeper, Ross Worner.

Jermaine McGlashan, who I can remember from his non-league days, tormented Martin all afternoon, before the defender saw red for a challenge on the bye-line leaving Gillingham to mount a rearguard action for the last half-hour. This they did relatively comfortably, Ross Flitney had to make two routine saves, but a block made by Lawrence in time added on not only won the game for the home side but also greatly contributed to his man of the match award.

Gillingham go into the New Year handily placed inside the play-off positions, but this game was a reminder of the early season struggle with Kedwell playing alone upfront. Hopefully, Joe Kuffour will return either as a permanent signing or another loan spell, if not then somebody else is desperately needed to support Kedwell.