Gillingham (0) 2 King 51, Kedwell 90+4 (pen)
Torquay United (0) 0
Att. 4,865
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 45/3,763
Match Report
The King is Back, Long Live the King.Simon King, who has had to endure the best part of three years of injury hell, has now played three games in the space of eight days and has contributed greatly to successive clean sheets at Priestfield. Gillingham finally put their eight game run without a win behind them with a well-deserved win over play-off chasing Torquay United and it was Simon King who set them on their way with a 51st minute headed goal.
In normal circumstances it would have been no surprise that Andy Hessenthaler opted for an unchanged side following Tuesday’s improved performance against Rotherham, but doubts will always be raised about King’s capacity to play games in quick succession, but play he did and was the undoubted man of the match, not just for his goal but his resolute defending alongside teenager Connor Essam, who also produced another worthy performance.
So Gillingham’s season, for whom obituary notices had been penned, not least in this column, has new life breathed into it. Dare we believe that they can be in contention in April, on the strength of this performance, we should.
The youngsters have brought a new enthusiasm to the side and lifted the morale on the terraces. Their performances were not faultless, but that is what you get with youth, sometimes their judgement can be questioned. But when you watch Paulo Gazzaniga’s victorious celebrations in front of the Rainham End, the mood quickly becomes infectious.
The home side so nearly started the game in the worst possible manner. Danny Stevens got inside Jack Evans and curled a shot to the far corner that struck the woodwork before being cleared to safety. The first half was very watchable with both sides carving out chances, Tomlin was the chief threat for Gillingham, whilst ex-Gill Rene Howe was a difficult customer, but being well contained by King and Essam.
The second half began with a chance at both ends in the opening minute. Joe Kuffour narrowly failed to get on to the end of a Tomlin cross and at the other end, Howe capitalised on a mistake by King, but was stopped from getting his shot away by a superbly timed tackle from Essam.
Gillingham took the lead following a Danny Jackman corner that was headed on by Danny Kedwell and met with a diving header from King that beat Gulls’ keeper, Bobby Olejnik. It was three years ago that the central defender last saw his name on the score sheet and his delight was shared by all but the 236 Torquay supporters that had made the long trip from the West Country.
Sensing a long-awaited win, the home crowd rose to the occasion and Gillingham had several chances to seal the game before suffering a final five minutes anxiety attack. Firstly, Gazzaniga was booked for a challenge outside of his area, from which Kevin Nicholson’s free kick whistled across the face of the goal and Taiwo Atieno should have buried a header in time added on, but steered it wide of the post.
Gillingham fans were finally put out of their misery with the virtual last kick of the match. Tomlin, once more weaved his magic into the box where he was brought down by Torquay defender. It was a clear penalty that appeared to have been turned away by the referee but awarded after the intervention of the linesman. Joe Oastler was given his marching orders, but it was seemingly Brian Saah that had committed to offence. Kedwell struck his penalty firmly to Olejnik’s right to secure the three points.
Tuesday night’s match against Hereford United will come around very quickly for Simon King, can he play a fourth match in just 10 days, our best wishes go with him as a player that deserves a break and three more points against relegation-threatened opposition would further the newly-found optimism around Priestfield.
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