Gillingham 4 Sheffield United 0

Match 11/15/1216 - Saturday, 8th August 2015 - League One

Gillingham (2) 4 Norris 8, Oshilaja 43, Egan 82, Dack 90
Sheffield United (0) 0
Attendance: 7,511

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 56/580

Match Report

One of the few benefits of night shift working is that during the summer you can get up for an afternoon’s cricket. I also utilise the push notification gizmo on my phone that informs when a wicket has gone down. Over this Ashes series I have developed an internal time clock that breaks my sleep about half-way through the morning session and I cannot resist a peep at the phone to see what has been happening. It appears to me, that each morning I’ve gone through this ritual it has ended with the words “I don’t believe that”. In fact, I was so distrusting of the message with the Aussies on 26-5 on the first morning of the fourth test that I had to turn the television on to confirm it. This Ashes series has been like something out the 1980’s TV series Tales of the Unexpected.

Perhaps not quite so unexpected was the final coup-de-grace as Australia surrendered their last three wickets in 40 minutes to give England an unassailable 3-1 lead with the Oval Test remaining, but it did set up the day nicely for Gillingham’s opening day fixture against the bookies’ pre-season favourites for League One, Sheffield United and a continuance of the Tales of the Unexpected summer.

I thought I could guess Justin Edinburgh’s first day line-up, and couldn’t have been more wrong, although I don’t think I would have been alone on that score. Biggest surprises were the omission of Max Ehmer in favour of Deji Oshilaja, the loanee central defender from Cardiff City and, in midfield, the introduction of 18-year-old Emmanuel Osadebe, a signing from Tottenham’s Foundation College programme (that’s a step below a Development XI).

Edinburgh also made the choice of Brennan Dickenson at left back in preference to Bradley Garmston and the goalkeeper’s jersey went to Stuart Nelson. Leading the line in the absence of Cody McDonald was to be Luke Norris.

Over 1,800 expectant Blades’ supporters packed out the Brian Moore Stand, to a man, I would guess, believing that, under the stewardship of Nigel Adkins, this would be the first step in their quest to finally end their five season sojourn in the third tier of English football.

Those supporters were to depart Kent a couple of hours later shell-shocked not only by the result but a performance that did nothing to justify their pre-season favourites tag.

A weapon that Edinburgh has kept under wraps during pre-season was the long throw of Ryan Jackson, the right-sided defender brought in from Newport County. Adkins was later to say that the throws had not caught them by surprise. If that was the case then they didn't plan very well to cope with the missiles being launched into their penalty area with little sign of a run-up.

After seven minutes, one such throw from Jackson had goalkeeper George Long flapping and eventually the ball was bundled over the line by Norris, although in the melee, the goal was initially credited to Osadebe.

Several more bombs from Jackson rained in on the United goal each one causing mayhem as Long and his defenders struggled to deal with them. A corner from Dack saw a clearance from the line following an Oshilaja header and finally just before the break their fragility in the air brought a second goal for Gillingham when the same two players combined, this time for the central defender to head home.

Dickenson, who had a fine game as a raiding wing back, supplied crosses and opportunties for Norris and Ben Williamson before eight minutes from time delivering a corner that was met with a powerful header from John Egan to wrap up the game for the home side.

There was still time for some Dack magic to round off the afternoon when he weaved his way to the edge of the penalty area from wide on the left to curl a sumptuous effort beyond the despairing dive of Long and into the far corner. It was the perfect end to a perfect opening day for Gillingham supporters.

This is a very young Gillingham side, one that is just as likely to unexpectedly frustrate as thrill in the manner in which they demolished Sheffield United. But that is a sacrifice on the altar of youthful exuberance I am prepared to accept in exchange for the high energy performance that also displayed with some real quality and who is to say where that might take us in the coming months.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself!