Gillingham 2 Wigan Athletic 0

Match 15/15/1220 - Saturday, 22nd August 2015 - League One

Gillingham (1) 2 Dack 37, 82 (pen)
Wigan Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 5,692

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 56/750

Match Report

What wasn't there to enjoy about this Gillingham performance? On a scorching hot day they have produced a high energy display against a club that two years ago were not only in the Premiership, but also winning the FA Cup. Try telling that to the miserable old beggar sitting behind me. Sometimes I absolutely despair at the expectancy of people. I sit, and I listen, and wonder why they have wasted their money buying a ticket.

As I said the weather was so hot, water breaks were taken in both halves. So having worked hard to get themselves into a winning position as the game entered into time added-on, albeit there were five minutes shown, Gillingham entered into a little bit of "game management" at the corner flag. The silly old git went apopletic calling it an absolute disgrace that they were doing such a thing when the opposing team were down to 10 men. But, considering he had spent the rest of the match labelling Luke Norris and Rory Donnelly the worst strikers ever seen on this planet, it should not have come as any surprise.

Hopefully, I can set the record straight and emphasise what a good performance this was, in my opinion better than the one against Sheffield United, by reason that Wigan at least showed some resilience and a backbone.

Gillingham set the tempo for the game from the opening minute when Bradley Dack forced a save from Richard O’Donnell in the opening minute. Such has been the season’s start made by the midfielder that it would be simple to make this all about Dack, but this has been more than a one man show.

The match day sponsors, not known for making the greatest of choices when selecting their man of the match, could quite easily have gone for the two goal Dack, but instead chose Jordan Houghton, who quietly, effectively went about his business in the middle of the field and never put a foot wrong.

A one-sided first half was heading towards a goal-less conclusion when Dack struck for the first goal after 37 minutes. Gillingham pressured their visitors inside their own half until eventually they gave the ball away. Houghton and Donnelly linked up with the latter laying the ball across to the edge of the penalty area for Dack to place his shot unerringly past O’Donnell.

Ten minutes into the second half, action at both ends could have seen the Gills go two ahead or back on level terms. First, Norris was sent clear but as he took one stride too long to steady himself, defender Craig Morgan denied him with a brilliant last ditch tackle. Almost directly after, Stuart Nelson was brought into action with an instinctive save to deny Will Grigg’s goalbound shot.

Norris nearly made amends moments later when, cutting in from the right, his 20 yard shot hit the far post.

Gillingham finally put the game to bed five minutes from time when Dack was brought down in the box by Donervan Daniels. Without a recognised penalty-taker on the pitch, Dack stepped up to drive his spot kick straight down the middle past O’Donnell, who had committed himself to his left hand side.

Unfortunately, for Daniels, an ex-Gillingham loanee, a clash of heads with Adedeji Oshilaja forced him from the field leaving the Latics to see out time a man shot.

Whether or not, Gillingham have the depth in the squad, or simply the ability to maintain this highly impressive start, who is to know. All I do know is that we should enjoy our moment in sun while it lasts, even that miserable old sod.