Peterborough United (1) 2 Assombalonga 42, Rowe 58
Gillingham (0) 0
Att. 6,543
Entrance: £15 Senior
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 272/7,086
Match Report
In Gillingham's case the opinion varies between the 48 they have on the board is enough (I've at least one foot in that camp) and 53, which I think is a total that Peter Taylor has over-egged. But I can see where Taylor is coming from, offer up a lower figure and players with one eye already on the beach, take their foot off the pedal completely and produce nothing performances, bit like this one at Peterborough where Gillingham were neither one thing or the other, not bad but not good either.
A couple of chances, Myles Weston sent clear on seven minutes, shot horribly wide when one-on-one with the keeper and early in the second half, Cody McDonald's delightful chip bringing a finger-tip save from Bobby Olejnik, might well have changed the context of the game, but for the most part, the promotion-chasing Posh dictated affairs.
If Gillingham are to make progress in this division next season, one look at the Peterborough side highlighted what is required and the money that Darragh McAnthony has spent to put together this side. If there is a million pounds in the pot, then why not go out buy yourself a striker that is going to give you 30-plus goals for the season, Britt Assombalonga has perfectly fitted that particular bill. In the middle of the park, it was good and galling in equal measure to watch Jack Payne literally strut his stuff. Yes, we got a nice fat fee for Jack, have we been able to replace him, I think not. Payne, alongside the rest of the Posh midfield dominated possession mainly because whenever Gillingham won the ball they, more often than not, gave it straight back to their hosts. Ball retention has been a problem all season and has become a continued theme of Taylor's post-match thoughts.
Gillingham did well to get to the 41st minute without conceding considering they lost Ryan Innis after just a quarter of an hour and with no centre back on the bench, substitute Charlie Lee was forced to fill in at that position. Lee, who got a wonderful reception from his ex-club's supporters, did an admirable job in the circumstances. Meanwhile, Innis will go back to Crystal Palace as one of the unluckiest loan players we've had. Three appearances have lasted 40 minutes, one complete match and 15 minutes.
Gillingham were finally broken down when a long ball to the left wing found raiding full back Kgosi Ntlhe who headed back into the area to Assombalonga who turned and shot between Stuart Nelson and his near post from six yards. The visitors had managed to keep the striker quiet for the most of the half, but with a yard of space in which to work, he duly poached his 30th goal of the season.
Adebayo Akinfenwa replaced Amine Linganzi in a formation reshuffle at half-time and it very nearly paid an instant dividend when he nodded on a long ball forward into the path of McDonald, but his deft chip was tipped over the bar by Olejnik.
A screamer from 25 yards from Tommy Rowe that went in off the underside of the bar put Peterborough two-up after 58 minutes and six minutes later the home side had a penalty to put the game beyond doubt when Steven Gregory tripped Assombalonga. However, the striker proved fallible as a weak spot kick was saved by Nelson.
Peterborough saw the game out with relative ease and with another road trip to Orient on Saturday, those in the camp that feel Gillingham still require a couple of wins might be beginning to wonder where they are going to come from. The final two home games hopefully.
This was the first trip to London Road for some years and as the picture below shows there is a massive redevelopment of the stadium in progress. In the meantime, limited leg room and unforgiving wooden seats makes being a visiting supporter pretty uncomfortable and not only because you are watching your side being dismantled by an expensively assembled home team.
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