Gillingham (0) 1 Tomlin 85
Southend United (2) 2 Dickinson 10 Martin (o.g.) 30
Att. 4,441
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 45/3,647
Match Report
It is said that James Patterson can write a full length novel in just 10 days, should the American author have enough knowledge about English football to pen a mere 100 words about this match, he would be struggling with writer’s block.Gillingham have now suffered four successive League defeats and are plunging into mid-table obscurity with the thought that this season could be written off in mid-February. The points deficit between them and a play-off place might appear to be well within reach, but the lasting impression from this defeat is that this season is heading in only one direction, south.
Southend went to the top of the table on the strength of their win, but my overall impression of them was of a side that are not particularly attractive on the eye, very direct but good at what they do.
Following the defensive debacle at Accrington, changes were spoken about but none materialised and two shocking bits of defending embarrassed the club in front of the Sky cameras. After 10 minutes, ex-Gillingham full back Sean Clohessy crossed into the box and after the ball was nodded on, Liam Dickinson had the freedom of Priestfield to slot past Paulo Gazzaniga from close range. On the half-hour, Dave Martin was allowed to run half the length of the pitch unchallenged before his low cross was turned into the net by Joe Martin under pressure from Kane Ferdinand.
It was a half in which Gillingham had contributed absolutely nothing and the jeers that accompanied the half time whistle were fully justified. Hessenthaler replaced the frankly awful Matt Lawrence with Jack Evans and Jack Payne, on the bench as not considered fully fit, replaced Lewis Montrose. Lawrence’s lack of pace is hopelessly exposed at full back, a Millwall supporter tells me he was a liability in that position at 28 years old, so at 38, need I say more.
Gillingham made a much better fist of the second half largely because of the efforts of Jack Payne. The back line looked marginally more comfortable with him patrolling in front of them and it was mainly from his creativity that the forwards got a little extra service.
From a game of mind-numbing mediocrity came with a moment of magic from Gavin Tomlin. Five minutes remained when he received a pass from Curtis Weston, the on-loan winger cut in from the right with four defenders queuing to stop him in his tracks. He rode a couple of challenges, weaved his way through all four before unleashing an unstoppable angled shot high into the roof of the net from a couple of yards inside the box. It was completely out of character for the game and was undeserving of the tag of a consolation goal, but, of course, that is what it was.
The arrival of the Sky cameras contributed to Gillingham’s lowest home League attendance of the season as punters opted for the warmth of their armchairs despite the slight rise in temperature following the harsh cold snap. If this season is about to lose its interest then those fans might well be spending a few more match days parked in front of the box and on the evidence of this game, nobody will blame them.
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