Gillingham 2 Sheffield United 0

Match 63/14/1172 - Saturday 7th February 2015 - League One

Gillingham (0) 2 McGlashen 86, McDonald 90
Sheffield United (0) 0
Att. 5,704

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 56/4,694

Match Report

I would guess that it is a good few years since I spent over a month away from Gillingham for League football. Since my last sighting, against Bristol City on 29 December, it appears that a spaceship from Planet Football has landed at Priestfield and supplanted that dull, lifeless team with one that carries a little devil and adventure. But, strangely, the majority of faces are very familiar.

But back on Planet Earth, it is the Gang of Four that are taking the plaudits for the re-emergence of entertainment when watching Gillingham Football Club. Following the sacking on New Year’s Eve of Peter Taylor, the chairman Paul Scally has taken a full month to consider his options, leaving Andy Hessenthaler, Steve Lovell, Darren Hare and Mark Patterson to release that handbrake and watch with interest as the team flourished under their command.

It might well have been that Mr Scally was suitably impressed and considered leaving well alone for the rest of the season, such was the relative success, but, on the day of this League One fixture against a highly rated Sheffield United, after protracted negotiations with Newport County, Justin Edinburgh was announced as the new manager.

Although this was to be the swan song of the Gang of Four, at least all of them remain in employment at the club, Hessenthaler reverts to Assistant Manager, Lovell is promoted to First Team Coach with Hare and Patterson returning to their Academy duties.

And what a swan song it turned out to be ….

Since my last visit, there are a couple of loan additions, Bradley Garmston has arrived from West Bromwich Albion and coupled with Gavin Hoyte it was pleasing to see the wing backs on the front foot. John Marquis has been brought in from Millwall to do the job previously tasked to Danny Kedwell but with the benefit of a few less years on the clock. Until his substitution on 79 minutes, Marquis impressed with his hold-up play if a goal wasn’t forthcoming on this occasion.

After an evenly contested and entertaining first half, the second period opened in the same vein, until a moment of magic from Cody McDonald brought the crowd to its feet just prior to the hour mark. A cross from Jake Hessenthaler was volleyed from the edge of the box, sadly for McDonald it crashed against the bar to thwart his effort for Goal of the Season.

As the game appeared to be drifting towards a very encouraging, but nonetheless goalless encounter, the home side fashioned a goal direct from the route one handbook. Max Ehmer, who it would be remiss of me to fail to report that he was outstanding given my previous criticism of the QPR loanee, hoisted a ball over the top that tempted the Blades’ keeper, Mark Howard from his line, but a long way from home he was beaten to ball by the Gills speedster, Jermaine McGlashen, who touched it pass him into the empty net.

In the time added on, with Sheffield United going for broke to find an equaliser they were stung by a swift counter attack which ended with McGlashen feeding McDonald to lash the ball home to the joyous ovation of Priestfield.

Justin Edinburgh, watching from the stands, probably cannot believe his luck. He must have been asking himself the question, why do this lot need a new manager. A month ago, the question was easily answered, but thanks to the Gang of Four, the new man has the perfect platform from which to build.