Gillingham (1) 4 Akinfenwa 25, 75 (2 Pens) Weston 56
Hessenthaler 90
Coventry City (0) 2 Wilson 53 (pen) Baker 80 (pen)
Att. 5,447
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/6,568
Match Report
So it was that, whilst this match against Coventry City produced the most thrilling of games, it was one in which had Peter Taylor the luxury of a sofa in his technical area he would have been hiding behind it as a professionals version of a horror story unfolded before his eyes.
Six goals, four of them penalties all converted which could quite possibly be a record, a sending-off, seven bookings, this match had everything and a little bit more, that little bit more being supplied by a quite outstanding first goal for Gillingham by Jake Hessenthaler.
This win gives Gillingham the breathing space which allows me risking severe egg on the face in a few weeks’ time, but I firmly believe that they are safe from relegation this season. Sure enough, a few more points are required but I’m convinced they will be attained.
Taylor has as many detractors as fans among the Priestfield support, but he will get a longer contract in the summer and a team can be rebuilt in his image on which he will stand or fall. In my opinion he has earned that opportunity.
This was not a match that I had budgeted three points for, but with Coventry coming to Kent on the back of three successive away defeats, the opportunity was there to be taken.
Gillingham took the lead after 25 minutes when Cody McDonald eventually wriggled clear of City central defender, Dan Seaborne, only to be wrestled to the ground to earn a penalty and a red card for the visitor's captain.
In the absence of Danny Kedwell, Adebayo Akinfenwa stepped up to subtly roll the ball into the corner sending Joe Murphy in the opposite direction. Bayo's not in the Kedwell school of thought on the art of spot kicks. Different style, same result is all that matters.
Just prior to the break, McDonald was on the end of header at the near post from Leon Legge to plant a header of his own into net only for a linesman's flag to deny him a goal against his former employers. The striker is in the midst of a goal drought at present and his persistent running at the Coventry back line deserved a goal on the night.
The first half had been interesting, but it hadn't prepared the crowd for the second half that was about to explode in action.
Going back to my point earlier that Gillingham never do easy, as is almost the norm when the opposition go down to ten men, Gillingham make heavy weather of their personnel advantage. Eight minutes into the second half and Coventry were on level terms courtesy of a penalty of their own. A long ball from John Fleck sent Callum Wilson down the left hand side and as he approached the bye-line he was needlessly fouled by Legge to concede the penalty that was duly despatched by Wilson himself.
The parity was to last only three minutes when a long throw from Charlie Lee was headed across the face of goal by Legge to, of all people, Myles Weston, who looped a header over Murphy from around eight yards. Weston is the butt of much criticism and a more unlikely scorer with his head you would be hard put to name, but this was an unlikely night.
On 75 minutes, Gillingham appeared to have made the game safe, with the aid of a strange refereeing decision. McDonald was brought down on the right side of the box by Jordan Clarke, but as the ball ran to Akinfenwa, the referee allowed advantage, the big man put his shot wide and then the referee pointed to the spot. Bayo placed his spot kick in the same manner as his first to put Gillingham 3-1 up.
Peter Taylor must take a lot of credit for the way he has time-managed Akinfenwa since his arrival. It is no secret that Bayo cannot make 90 minutes and certainly is going to struggle to play two full games in four days, but Taylor uses him to the maximum amount of time possible and the striker responds in kind. In the single art of collecting a ball with his back to the goal and bringing others into play, I cannot think of anybody better in my entire time watching the club.
The nothing comes easy tag was brought to bear once more with 10 minutes remaining when Mr Sheldrake awarded a fourth penalty of the game. Wilson, latching onto a pass that had been headed forward got between Legge and Adam Barrett and the former conceded his second penalty of the night that was coolly despatched by Carl Baker.
It had already been the game that had everything and one that would live in the memory but it wasn't finished yet. With Gillingham struggling to run down the clock as time added on was entered, Hewitt punted a long forward ball that had McDonald once more scampering after it. Joe Murphy ventured fully 30 yards from his goal to head clear, but only into the path of Jake Hessenthaler. The 19-year-old advanced a few yards, with the crowd bellowing "shoot" and the keeper in no-man's land, he let fly from 40 yards and everybody watched in amazement as the ball entered the unguarded net via the underside of the crossbar. If young Jake goes on to score a 100 or even 200 goals no one is ever going to forget his first.
The final whistle brought to a close a mad, memorable night and one that has gone a long way to ensuring League One football next season. Who needs easy when it can be this exciting!
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