Gillingham 1 Carlisle United 1

Match 67/17/1517 - Saturday, 2nd December 2017 - FA Cup Round 2

Gillingham (1) 1 O'Neill 5
Carlisle United (1) 1 Grainger 18 (pen)
Attendance: 3,178

Entrance: £10.75 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 58/4,381

What can you say that is fresh about Gillingham Football Club? I’m at that point that I really don’t like writing up this blog when Gillingham are involved; it is just that same old words slightly recycled that are boring to write and, undoubtedly, boring to read.

I have no doubt that the 300 hardy Carlisle supporters who made the monstrously long journey down to Kent wound their way back to Cumbria more than happy with their afternoon. They will feel that the ball is now in their court and a Third Round tie is there for the taking.

Gillingham could not have asked for much more from the draw; a home tie against League Two opposition ticked all the boxes. But with home form as it is, this was not so much a banana skin rather a three carriageway oil slick.

The trouble is with (and here we go with the same old, same old) a lack of quality is, that no matter how big the carrot, quality that is not there cannot be manufactured like an extra bit of effort, of which nobody denies Gillingham do not lack.

My early fear was that Carlisle would score first and park the box and we would certainly not have the keys to unlock the said vehicle. That fear was put to bed within five minutes when a quality (where did that come from?) free kick from Luke O’Neill found a space between the goalkeeper and his right hand post from 20 yards out to open the scoring.

The lead lasted a quarter-of-an-hour before Mark Byrne brought down Tom Parkes for the awarding of a penalty that was converted by Danny Grainger which in turn allowed the Cumbrians the opportunity to start reversing their bus into position.

The lack of quality (here we go again) meant that Tom Eaves and Connor Wilkinson were starved of any meaningful service as cross after cross was either overhit or failed to beat the first defender.

Carlisle used just about every time-wasting tactic in the book, but in truth they didn’t have to, Gillingham could have been there for another week and they would not have added to the score.

The away form is so much better at present, so all is not lost and hopefully for the doughty 150 or so that will make the trip the Magic of the Cup will still be alive and kicking.