Gillingham 0 Oldham Athletic 0

Match 64/17/1514 - Saturday, 25th November 2017 - League One

Gillingham (0) 0
Oldham Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 4,364

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 58/4,103

I made my way to Priestfield with a sense of optimism, something that has not been the norm this season. A reasonable upturn in form, including three wins on the road, has resulted in Steve Lovell being awarded the manager’s job until the end of the season and Mr Scally’s court case with Centreplate has finally been concluded with the chairman trousering £1.4 million. How much of this will find its way into playing resources is open to conjecture, but my guess is the wad in Scally’s pocket won’t be diminishing by too much.

My optimistic outlook was not shared by others as, take away the 200-odd Oldham supporters down from Lancashire, there was barely 4,000 hardy souls supporting the Gills. It was a raw, cold afternoon, one worthy of the heaviest coat coming out of the wardrobe, so with the free ticket contingent seemingly being given a week off, it was not really surprising.

That was a shame really, as this was a good 0-0 draw that was always interesting. There was a lack of quality from both sides; they are not both in the lower reaches without reason, and what little there was came from the visitors. But the endeavour shown from Gillingham is not to be scoffed at, given that previous regimes have presided over teams that have failed to display the pre-requisite of any professional footballers: 100% effort.

Oldham started well and their leading goalscorer Eoin Doyle and Craig Davies combined to send the latter through on goal but Tomas Holy did well to save with his feet.

A long stoppage ensued when Lee Martin took the full force of a clearance to his head. After lengthy treatment the Gills skipper was stretchered to a waiting ambulance. Thankfully, it was reported that Martin was back in the dressing room at the end of the game having been given the all clear at the hospital.

The game was very open with the visitors creating several half chances whilst Tom Eaves produced a powerful run to set up Scott Wagstaff for a low cross that eluded Josh Parker.

But it was Holy that was producing the saves that mattered to deny Jack Byrne and Doyle to preserve a goal-less parity at the break.

The second half began in much the same vein, the game quite open and end-to-end but with Holy being asked to make the saves.

The best chance of the match, so far, fell to the Latics when Queensy Menig rounded Holy but saw his shot on goal cleared from the line by Mark Byrne.

As the game entered its closing stages, Eaves was proving a real handful for the visitors with their goalkeeper Johny Placide saving low as he powered through.

Placide then made the save of the match when he tipped a free kick from Luke O’Neill onto the underside of the bar, and whether more by luck than judgement, managed to shepherd the ball to safety as the rebound came off his back.

For Gillingham, reasons to be cheerful, well yes.

Matches against Oldham will always bring to mind my good friend, John Gilmour, sadly taken from us six years ago. RIP John.