Gillingham (0) 0
Swindon Town (0) 2 Drinan 69 Holman 85
Attendance: 4,991
Admission: £22
Mileage: 45/4,101
GILLS IMPROVE, BUT WITHOUT REWARD
It might not have been the best evening to return to Gillingham for the first time in five weeks and with two five goal hammerings in the last two games and a visit from the old enemy, Swindon Town, the prospects were not encouraging.
The resulting 2-0 defeat for the Gills was predictable but the manner of the loss was not. By any matrix Gillingham were extremely unlucky, they dominated almost every area of the game barring the opening 15 minutes when confidence was obviously shaken by the recent results. But, as we are regularly advised by football managers, if you don’t take your chances, you are vulnerable and Swindon, with their only two shots on target, scored twice following questionable defending.
Tempering my disappointment, Tonbridge Angels won with a late goal at Weston-super-Mare, thereby reaching 50 points, safety and a another National League South season to enjoy.
There was a time when the animosity between the clubs, dating back to 1979, Ray McHale, Danny Westwood and the old-timer threatening the referee with his walking stick, would have brought a full house but, whether it was Gillingham’s woeful form or that the rivalry has now faded into the mists of time, an attendance of 4,991 was paltry.
Gillingham might have gone into the break one or two goals in front without the superb interventions from the Swindon goalkeeper, Connor Ripley, who belied the Rainham End jibes regarding his ample girth, brilliantly turning over a shot heading for the top corner from Ronan Hale after 31 minutes and diving low to claw away a header from Omar Beckles following a corner.
Attacking the Rainham End in the second half, a Remeao Hutton cross into the box looked destined to finish in the net as Hale attempted to get on the end of it from close range but the ball was scrambled to safety.
On 69 minutes, the Gills paid for their inability to take their chances when a long punt forward by Ripley, saw two defenders attack the same ball with neither making a meaningful contact but saw Aaron Drinan race clear to clinically finish.
Gillingham created further scrambles in the Swindon area without converting and the coup de grace came five minutes from time when Fletcher Holman scored a second following Joel McGregor’s low cross into the box.
The appreciative applause from the home crowd at the final whistle showed an understanding that this had been a much improved performance, if not the desired result.
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