Match 65/07/682 - Saturday, 26th April 2008 - League One
Gillingham (1) 1 Richards 1
Swindon Town (0) 1 Aljofree 88
Att. 6,334
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,954
Match Report
The R word now looms larger than large on the horizon. Three minutes from the end at Boundary Park, the word was being spelt out in full as Cheltenham were holding Oldham and barring a mathematical miracle, Gillingham were bidding fond farewell to Division One. Lewis Alessandra then provided a certain symmetry to matters witnessed earlier at Priestfield, Oldham won 2-1 and Gillingham’s fragile (but probably futile) hopes go forward to the last day.
How different those last day hopes might have been if Gillingham had held out beyond the 88th minute, when Swindon’s skipper, Aljofree, which sounds very much like a favourite curry, left a bitter taste in the mouth as he hooked in after Gillingham failed to clear a corner. It had started so positively with Gary Richards meeting a Southall free kick to give the Gills a first minute lead. The home side went on to dominate the first half and had a penalty appeal turned down as the referee gave a free kick outside the box when it was clearly inside, even from my more distant viewpoint.
The second half was typical Gillingham, slowly their nerves got to them, they sank deeper and deeper towards their box and despite the minutes ticking away and Swindon not really threatening, the equaliser came almost as an inevitability. This is the fourth consecutive game that they have failed to hold on to a lead, having surrendered the advantage with draws at Millwall and Bristol Rovers and last time out at Priestfield in the defeat to Swansea.
All this leaves a depressingly desperate scenario for next Saturday at Elland Road. Firstly, Gillingham have to win against a Leeds team that should they retrieve their 15 point penalty on appeal would be in a automatic promotion position and even playing for the title. Even without the points return the Yorkshire giants are certain of a play-off place. Having done the easy bit, Gillingham will then have to watch the results bounce off the teleprinter and hope that Bournemouth fail to win at Carlisle and Cheltenham are beaten at home by Doncaster Rovers. So not much more than a kid wanting Christmas every day.
Next week, when the R word spells not only relegation but reality, will be the time to begin the inquest of a season that Mr Scally labelled in his programme notes as unpredictable, personally unpalatable would have been a better word.
Showing posts with label Gillingham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gillingham. Show all posts
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Gillingham 1 Swansea City 2
Match 63/07/680 - Saturday, 12th April 2008 - League One
Gillingham (1) 1 Oli 22
Swansea City (2) 2 Bouza 44, 45
Att. 8,520
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,559
Match Report
The problem with doing this blog on a Saturday night is that tomorrow morning watching the highlights on the Championship you can be made to look a complete prat.
A goal up against the champions-elect and quite comfortable, two very dubious refereeing decisions left Gillingham 2-1 down at half time, a deficit they were unable to overturn in the second half despite dominating.
When those highlights are viewed it might well be that referee Clive Penton actually got it right and the blame lies squarely with Derek Stillie. For the first goal, a not particularly hard hit shot was spilt by the keeper who was then very slow to recover the ball. He appeared to have both hands on the ball when Guillem Bauza bundled the ball home for a 44th minute equaliser. Just a minute later, Stillie once again failed to hold onto a tame effort that fell to Bauza, who controlled the ball with his hand before slotting home with the home side standing still, appealing. Tonight, two very poor refereeing decisions, tomorrow, just plain, bad goalkeeping, we’ll see.
Before those two mad, soul destroying minutes, Gillingham had been at ease with their high-flying opponents. They had taken a 22nd minute lead through Dennis Oli and wasted a couple of good chances to postpone Swansea’s promotion party for another week. The prolific Jason Scotland cut a peripheral figure being well marshalled by Simon King and Danny Cullip and at the back, keeper De Vries had a couple of shaky moments.
But as it is always said in football, teams at the bottom do not get decisions from referees and the two in the final minutes of the first half will probably consign Gillingham to relegation this season. Clive Penton cannot shoulder the blame for what had gone previously over 42 games, Gillingham are where they are because for the most part they simply have not been good enough. But they came into today’s game on the back of a three game run that had produced five valuable points towards safety and played with a determination that belied the difference in league position between the sides.
The second half was a huff and puff performance with Mark Stimson throwing forwards into the fray as substitutes to recover a point, but with the exception of a couple of half chances they never quite recreated the momentum of the first half.
On the final whistle (referee Penton even managed to turn four extra minutes into three), Gillingham fans trailed away in the knowledge that Crewe and Millwall had both won, leaving their counterparts from Wales to celebrate their promotion into the English second tier. Good luck to them, when they raise their glasses to Roberto Martinez and Guillem Bauza tonight, they may wish to toast Clive Penton, let’s see the highlights.
Gillingham (1) 1 Oli 22
Swansea City (2) 2 Bouza 44, 45
Att. 8,520
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,559
Match Report
The problem with doing this blog on a Saturday night is that tomorrow morning watching the highlights on the Championship you can be made to look a complete prat.
A goal up against the champions-elect and quite comfortable, two very dubious refereeing decisions left Gillingham 2-1 down at half time, a deficit they were unable to overturn in the second half despite dominating.
When those highlights are viewed it might well be that referee Clive Penton actually got it right and the blame lies squarely with Derek Stillie. For the first goal, a not particularly hard hit shot was spilt by the keeper who was then very slow to recover the ball. He appeared to have both hands on the ball when Guillem Bauza bundled the ball home for a 44th minute equaliser. Just a minute later, Stillie once again failed to hold onto a tame effort that fell to Bauza, who controlled the ball with his hand before slotting home with the home side standing still, appealing. Tonight, two very poor refereeing decisions, tomorrow, just plain, bad goalkeeping, we’ll see.
Before those two mad, soul destroying minutes, Gillingham had been at ease with their high-flying opponents. They had taken a 22nd minute lead through Dennis Oli and wasted a couple of good chances to postpone Swansea’s promotion party for another week. The prolific Jason Scotland cut a peripheral figure being well marshalled by Simon King and Danny Cullip and at the back, keeper De Vries had a couple of shaky moments.
But as it is always said in football, teams at the bottom do not get decisions from referees and the two in the final minutes of the first half will probably consign Gillingham to relegation this season. Clive Penton cannot shoulder the blame for what had gone previously over 42 games, Gillingham are where they are because for the most part they simply have not been good enough. But they came into today’s game on the back of a three game run that had produced five valuable points towards safety and played with a determination that belied the difference in league position between the sides.
The second half was a huff and puff performance with Mark Stimson throwing forwards into the fray as substitutes to recover a point, but with the exception of a couple of half chances they never quite recreated the momentum of the first half.
On the final whistle (referee Penton even managed to turn four extra minutes into three), Gillingham fans trailed away in the knowledge that Crewe and Millwall had both won, leaving their counterparts from Wales to celebrate their promotion into the English second tier. Good luck to them, when they raise their glasses to Roberto Martinez and Guillem Bauza tonight, they may wish to toast Clive Penton, let’s see the highlights.
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Gillingham 2 Luton Town 1
Match 60/07/677 - Tuesday, 1st April 2008 - League One
Gillingham (0) 2 Jackson 75, 87
Luton Town (1) 1 Parkin 19
Att. 6,142
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,408
Match Report
There was just 45 minutes left in our season, five more games to come but realistically the next 45 were going to be make or break.
A goal down, was it a fluke, it was certainly strange watching Derek Stillie come for what appeared to be an imaginary cross into his six yard box only to stand flat-footed as Sam Parkin directed a header from all of 18 yards. Gillingham had huffed and puffed for the remainder of the half, created a half-decent chance that unfortunately fell to centre-back Gary Richards, but were largely outpassed and outmoved by Luton Town. The visitors’ first half performance belied their relegation position but highlighted that they were largely imprisoned by virtue of their 10 point administration deduction.
The last couple of games, despite indifferent first half performances, have seen the Rainham End rise to the cause during the half-time break and this time they repeated the act with an even greater intensity. It does seem that since the Crewe debacle (and subsequent incidents) that there is now a collective will to produce a do or die effort.
Gillingham were back on the pitch early while Luton stalled their return hoping that the crowd would run out of steam while they waited. But all four sides of Priestfield were prepared to suck that ball into the Rainham End goal.
After a couple of half chances, ten minutes into the second and Simeon Jackson is through one-on-one with goalkeeper Dean Brill, but Jackson did what he has done on three or four occasions since his arrival, failed to lift the ball over the keeper and it was the ex-Gillingham loanee that came out on top with a good save. Seven minutes later and there is a reprise of the previous situation, Jackson in the clear and bearing down on Brill, this time the forward managing to lift the ball over the keeper, the ball is agonisingly bouncing towards the goal, but once again a Luton defender gets round and the ball is cleared to safety. This is not going to be our night, my thoughts being echoed by Gillingham fans as one.
Mark Stimson makes bold choices, John Nutter is replaced by Leroy Griffiths and new signing Georges Ba comes on for Adam Miller. It really is shit or bust now. Fifteen minutes to go and Ba sends a ball into the Hatters area, a chance falls to Bentley that Brill is once again the equal, but the ball is lifted back into the six yard box by Griffiths and this time Jackson gets in a brave header and the Gills are level. Cue much celebration and the noise levels raised to decibels not heard at Priestfield for months.
With time running out Stimson introduces yet another forward, new signing Donovan Simmonds for Dennis Oli. Into the last five minutes and Nicky Southall produces a David Beckham moment that will live long in the memory. His perfectly curled cross is met at the far post by the on-rushing Jackson, the net bulges, the Rainham End tumble down the terraces to greet their hero and the cacophony of sound was probably heard in Chatham Town Centre.
Four agonising minutes, cotton-twitching minutes described by Doug Hudson, just about passed with Gillingham easing down the clock to a final whistle greeted with as much joy as has been witnessed in several years.
A one point deficit to Crewe, two away from Saturday’s opponents Millwall. The New Den will not be for the faint-hearted with both sides desperate for the points. At this stage I will gladly take just the one and hope that results go our way elsewhere. Let us hope that this new found resistance can be replicated away from Priestfield, if it is then the Great Escape can replace the Fat Lady Singing.
Gillingham (0) 2 Jackson 75, 87
Luton Town (1) 1 Parkin 19
Att. 6,142
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,408
Match Report
There was just 45 minutes left in our season, five more games to come but realistically the next 45 were going to be make or break.
A goal down, was it a fluke, it was certainly strange watching Derek Stillie come for what appeared to be an imaginary cross into his six yard box only to stand flat-footed as Sam Parkin directed a header from all of 18 yards. Gillingham had huffed and puffed for the remainder of the half, created a half-decent chance that unfortunately fell to centre-back Gary Richards, but were largely outpassed and outmoved by Luton Town. The visitors’ first half performance belied their relegation position but highlighted that they were largely imprisoned by virtue of their 10 point administration deduction.
The last couple of games, despite indifferent first half performances, have seen the Rainham End rise to the cause during the half-time break and this time they repeated the act with an even greater intensity. It does seem that since the Crewe debacle (and subsequent incidents) that there is now a collective will to produce a do or die effort.
Gillingham were back on the pitch early while Luton stalled their return hoping that the crowd would run out of steam while they waited. But all four sides of Priestfield were prepared to suck that ball into the Rainham End goal.
After a couple of half chances, ten minutes into the second and Simeon Jackson is through one-on-one with goalkeeper Dean Brill, but Jackson did what he has done on three or four occasions since his arrival, failed to lift the ball over the keeper and it was the ex-Gillingham loanee that came out on top with a good save. Seven minutes later and there is a reprise of the previous situation, Jackson in the clear and bearing down on Brill, this time the forward managing to lift the ball over the keeper, the ball is agonisingly bouncing towards the goal, but once again a Luton defender gets round and the ball is cleared to safety. This is not going to be our night, my thoughts being echoed by Gillingham fans as one.
Mark Stimson makes bold choices, John Nutter is replaced by Leroy Griffiths and new signing Georges Ba comes on for Adam Miller. It really is shit or bust now. Fifteen minutes to go and Ba sends a ball into the Hatters area, a chance falls to Bentley that Brill is once again the equal, but the ball is lifted back into the six yard box by Griffiths and this time Jackson gets in a brave header and the Gills are level. Cue much celebration and the noise levels raised to decibels not heard at Priestfield for months.
With time running out Stimson introduces yet another forward, new signing Donovan Simmonds for Dennis Oli. Into the last five minutes and Nicky Southall produces a David Beckham moment that will live long in the memory. His perfectly curled cross is met at the far post by the on-rushing Jackson, the net bulges, the Rainham End tumble down the terraces to greet their hero and the cacophony of sound was probably heard in Chatham Town Centre.
Four agonising minutes, cotton-twitching minutes described by Doug Hudson, just about passed with Gillingham easing down the clock to a final whistle greeted with as much joy as has been witnessed in several years.
A one point deficit to Crewe, two away from Saturday’s opponents Millwall. The New Den will not be for the faint-hearted with both sides desperate for the points. At this stage I will gladly take just the one and hope that results go our way elsewhere. Let us hope that this new found resistance can be replicated away from Priestfield, if it is then the Great Escape can replace the Fat Lady Singing.
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Gillingham 0 Carlisle United 0
Match 59/07/676 - Saturday, 29th March 2008 - League One
Gillingham (0) 0
Carlisle United (0) 0
Att. 6,673
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,363
Match Report
There is hope! This was a much improved performance that possibly deserved more than a point against Carlisle, a side occupying one of the automatic promotion positions. A 25 yard drive from Simeon Jackson smacked against the bar and such is your luck when you are at the foot of the division.
Defeats for Crewe and Millwall inches Gillingham a little closer and if, that very big IF, they were to beat fellow relegation fodder, Luton Town on Tuesday then just a point will separate the Gills from Crewe. A win would also set up a big clash at the New Den next Saturday.
All over the pitch Gillingham were far better than in recent weeks. Nicky Southall was a welcome returnee after injury and he added quality that has been missing on that flank. Danny Cullip also returned and the back four look more solid with his added strength and experience. Back from international duty came Andrew Crofts, sorely missed at Port Vale on Monday.
Gillingham survived an early scare when Southall cleared off the line with Carlisle appealing that the ball had crossed the line. In these opening minutes Derek Stille flapped badly at a couple of crosses, but he recovered to make good saves further into the game.
Mark Bentley and Crofts were competing well in midfield and several half-chances fell the way of Jackson, who could not convert his energetic performance into goals. When the final analysis of the season comes around, it could be the very poor chances to goals ratio that is going to relegate us. When you take away loanee Chris Dickson’s goals then the tally becomes very sparse.
Gillingham gave away a thousand or more tickets and were rewarded for their initiative with a vibrant atmosphere that was willing and ready to drive the side forwards in their quest for vital points. There was no negativity, no chants for anybody’s head and though the win did not come, I’m sure some of the freebies might be enticed back for another game in this anxious run-in.
To use the IF word again, IF only we had produced more performances like this since Christmas undoubtedly we would not be in the mess we are in. IF we can keep Danny Cullip fit for the rest of the season there might just be a couple of clean sheets obtained in the last six games and IF Simeon Jackson’s luck changes he might just supply the goals that are going to keep the club in this division.
IF, a very small word with very big consequences.
Gillingham (0) 0
Carlisle United (0) 0
Att. 6,673
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/5,363
Match Report
There is hope! This was a much improved performance that possibly deserved more than a point against Carlisle, a side occupying one of the automatic promotion positions. A 25 yard drive from Simeon Jackson smacked against the bar and such is your luck when you are at the foot of the division.
Defeats for Crewe and Millwall inches Gillingham a little closer and if, that very big IF, they were to beat fellow relegation fodder, Luton Town on Tuesday then just a point will separate the Gills from Crewe. A win would also set up a big clash at the New Den next Saturday.
All over the pitch Gillingham were far better than in recent weeks. Nicky Southall was a welcome returnee after injury and he added quality that has been missing on that flank. Danny Cullip also returned and the back four look more solid with his added strength and experience. Back from international duty came Andrew Crofts, sorely missed at Port Vale on Monday.
Gillingham survived an early scare when Southall cleared off the line with Carlisle appealing that the ball had crossed the line. In these opening minutes Derek Stille flapped badly at a couple of crosses, but he recovered to make good saves further into the game.
Mark Bentley and Crofts were competing well in midfield and several half-chances fell the way of Jackson, who could not convert his energetic performance into goals. When the final analysis of the season comes around, it could be the very poor chances to goals ratio that is going to relegate us. When you take away loanee Chris Dickson’s goals then the tally becomes very sparse.
Gillingham gave away a thousand or more tickets and were rewarded for their initiative with a vibrant atmosphere that was willing and ready to drive the side forwards in their quest for vital points. There was no negativity, no chants for anybody’s head and though the win did not come, I’m sure some of the freebies might be enticed back for another game in this anxious run-in.
To use the IF word again, IF only we had produced more performances like this since Christmas undoubtedly we would not be in the mess we are in. IF we can keep Danny Cullip fit for the rest of the season there might just be a couple of clean sheets obtained in the last six games and IF Simeon Jackson’s luck changes he might just supply the goals that are going to keep the club in this division.
IF, a very small word with very big consequences.
Saturday, 22 March 2008
Gillingham 2 AFC Bournemouth 1
Match 56/07/673 - Saturday, 22nd March 2008 - League One
Gillingham (2) 2 Crofts 9 Jackson 27
AFC Bournemouth (1) 1 Kuffour 28
Att. 6,540
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,413
Match Report
Three crucial points were won at the end of a week that saw Gillingham portrayed as the most dysfunctional family in a very bad soap opera. Such was the fall-out from last week’s pathetic display against Crewe Alexandra that it emerged that after the game rocks had been thrown at chairman Paul Scally’s car. Scally outraged not only by the incident but also by the abuse that he had taken in the ground said that it had been “disgusting, disappointing, disenchanting and disgraceful. Some of the insults were disgraceful and I had my three year old daughter with me. They weren’t kids either, they were men. Some of the abuse I got was disgusting from some scumbags. It’s not acceptable and nobody deserves it.”
Scally launched into another attack on the fans that had called for him to leave the club claiming that the bank had placed their faith in him personally and that if he walked away the club would collapse. He also stated that he might have walked away on Saturday night if it hadn’t been for the support of the bank, staff and others.
Later in the week it was Mark Stimson’s turn to serve a few volleys. In a Radio Kent interview he told of four players that had missed training sessions with limp excuses. Stimson said: "It is unthinkable. Players have been told how important these sessions are, and have then missed them." No names were mentioned but it wasn’t too hard to guess who a couple of them might be and given that he said that the four would probably not play for the club again the team sheet against Bournemouth would provide a few answers.
It had been a week when the always fractious relationship between Scally and an element of Gillingham fans had been seemingly irretrievably broken and that within the club there were dangerous cracks in the relationships between player and manager.
Such was the backdrop that I had commented on a message board that the chairman’s programme notes could be worth the £3 cover price on its own. After the usual welcome to the visitors, just three lines: “Based on the events over the past seven days, I am completely lost for words on a number of issues and I feel it best that I make no further comment at this time. Enjoy the game and thank you all for attending.” Mr Scally lost for words? There’s a first.
So it was that an unexpected, larger than usual crowd of 6,540 (probably enhanced by the quid for a kid offer) braved the arctic chill that had blessed this Easter Saturday. Firstly the team sheet showed six changes that offered the clue that the guilty four may have been Adam Bygrave, Gary Mulligan, Delroy Facey and one other who were not included in the 16. Simon Royce was also missing but this had been due to an injury picked up in training.
Replacing Facey and Mulligan upfront were Simeon Jackson, whose 15 minute cameo last week had been the one positive feature and Dennis Oli. These two looked lively (not hard when comparing with the bone-idle Facey) and Gillingham started brightly and took only nine minutes to take the lead following a swerving shot from Andrew Crofts that left the Bournemouth keeper flat footed. After a couple of decent efforts, Jackson finally opened his account for the Gills with a well-taken goal after 27 minutes. Never a club to make things easy for themselves, Gillingham immediately conceded to leave the nerves still on the edge.
The second half was largely Bournemouth’s and when the vistors were awarded a soft penalty it looked as if Gillingham had lost their opportunity for a morale boosting victory. Stand-in keeper Derek Stille produced a brilliant save to deny Max-Alain Gradel in what might be the moment that turns a season.
A fighting, rather than convincing, Gillingham performance had nipped in the bud any protests that had been threatened, but I suspect that the repercussions of the past week will be felt for the rest of the season.
Gillingham (2) 2 Crofts 9 Jackson 27
AFC Bournemouth (1) 1 Kuffour 28
Att. 6,540
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,413
Match Report
Three crucial points were won at the end of a week that saw Gillingham portrayed as the most dysfunctional family in a very bad soap opera. Such was the fall-out from last week’s pathetic display against Crewe Alexandra that it emerged that after the game rocks had been thrown at chairman Paul Scally’s car. Scally outraged not only by the incident but also by the abuse that he had taken in the ground said that it had been “disgusting, disappointing, disenchanting and disgraceful. Some of the insults were disgraceful and I had my three year old daughter with me. They weren’t kids either, they were men. Some of the abuse I got was disgusting from some scumbags. It’s not acceptable and nobody deserves it.”
Scally launched into another attack on the fans that had called for him to leave the club claiming that the bank had placed their faith in him personally and that if he walked away the club would collapse. He also stated that he might have walked away on Saturday night if it hadn’t been for the support of the bank, staff and others.
Later in the week it was Mark Stimson’s turn to serve a few volleys. In a Radio Kent interview he told of four players that had missed training sessions with limp excuses. Stimson said: "It is unthinkable. Players have been told how important these sessions are, and have then missed them." No names were mentioned but it wasn’t too hard to guess who a couple of them might be and given that he said that the four would probably not play for the club again the team sheet against Bournemouth would provide a few answers.
It had been a week when the always fractious relationship between Scally and an element of Gillingham fans had been seemingly irretrievably broken and that within the club there were dangerous cracks in the relationships between player and manager.
Such was the backdrop that I had commented on a message board that the chairman’s programme notes could be worth the £3 cover price on its own. After the usual welcome to the visitors, just three lines: “Based on the events over the past seven days, I am completely lost for words on a number of issues and I feel it best that I make no further comment at this time. Enjoy the game and thank you all for attending.” Mr Scally lost for words? There’s a first.
So it was that an unexpected, larger than usual crowd of 6,540 (probably enhanced by the quid for a kid offer) braved the arctic chill that had blessed this Easter Saturday. Firstly the team sheet showed six changes that offered the clue that the guilty four may have been Adam Bygrave, Gary Mulligan, Delroy Facey and one other who were not included in the 16. Simon Royce was also missing but this had been due to an injury picked up in training.
Replacing Facey and Mulligan upfront were Simeon Jackson, whose 15 minute cameo last week had been the one positive feature and Dennis Oli. These two looked lively (not hard when comparing with the bone-idle Facey) and Gillingham started brightly and took only nine minutes to take the lead following a swerving shot from Andrew Crofts that left the Bournemouth keeper flat footed. After a couple of decent efforts, Jackson finally opened his account for the Gills with a well-taken goal after 27 minutes. Never a club to make things easy for themselves, Gillingham immediately conceded to leave the nerves still on the edge.
The second half was largely Bournemouth’s and when the vistors were awarded a soft penalty it looked as if Gillingham had lost their opportunity for a morale boosting victory. Stand-in keeper Derek Stille produced a brilliant save to deny Max-Alain Gradel in what might be the moment that turns a season.
A fighting, rather than convincing, Gillingham performance had nipped in the bud any protests that had been threatened, but I suspect that the repercussions of the past week will be felt for the rest of the season.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Gillingham 0 Crewe Alexandra 3
Match 55/07/672 - Saturday, 15th March 2008 - League One
Gillingham (0) 0
Crewe Alexandra (1) 3 Pope 9 Maynard 50 Morgan 76
Att. 4,956
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,368
Match Report
“This is embarrassing” sang the Rainham End as Gillingham slumped to their fourth successive defeat leaving them four points adrift of safety. Chants of Scally and Stimson Out were made as the crowd vented their frustration at this woeful display.
Those same supporters, aware of the enormity of the game, had given superb vocal support at the beginning of each half but were worn down by the ineptness of this Gillingham team. Clearly most of the players that Stimson has brought from non-league have failed to make the grade and they are not being helped by the so-called experienced players.
If it wasn’t so serious it would be possible to laugh at the joke of a goal that gave Crewe an early lead. A poor goal kick that scuffed along the ground, bouncing its way through the Gillingham midfield, to Morgan who set up Pope for a smart finish. Gills spent the rest of the half on the back foot as Crewe created and missed chances to put the match to bed.
Somehow the drummer boy managed to get the crowd going again at the start of the second half, but the superb atmosphere was completely flattened by a second Crewe goal and when they added a third, the patience finally snapped and those that did not vacate their seats rightly vented their displeasure.
A couple of weeks ago I was writing that I wasn’t guessing whether we would go down or not, but three on-the-road defeats and today’s debacle leave no other conclusion to make than we will go down. There are no goals in this side (despite Simeon Jackson making a lively contribution as sub late in the game) and the goal difference is now going south at an alarming rate.
Easter brings matches against fellow bottom four teams, Bournemouth and Port Vale, but present form does nothing to suggest that the result will be anything different from today.
Gillingham (0) 0
Crewe Alexandra (1) 3 Pope 9 Maynard 50 Morgan 76
Att. 4,956
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,368
Match Report
“This is embarrassing” sang the Rainham End as Gillingham slumped to their fourth successive defeat leaving them four points adrift of safety. Chants of Scally and Stimson Out were made as the crowd vented their frustration at this woeful display.
Those same supporters, aware of the enormity of the game, had given superb vocal support at the beginning of each half but were worn down by the ineptness of this Gillingham team. Clearly most of the players that Stimson has brought from non-league have failed to make the grade and they are not being helped by the so-called experienced players.
If it wasn’t so serious it would be possible to laugh at the joke of a goal that gave Crewe an early lead. A poor goal kick that scuffed along the ground, bouncing its way through the Gillingham midfield, to Morgan who set up Pope for a smart finish. Gills spent the rest of the half on the back foot as Crewe created and missed chances to put the match to bed.
Somehow the drummer boy managed to get the crowd going again at the start of the second half, but the superb atmosphere was completely flattened by a second Crewe goal and when they added a third, the patience finally snapped and those that did not vacate their seats rightly vented their displeasure.
A couple of weeks ago I was writing that I wasn’t guessing whether we would go down or not, but three on-the-road defeats and today’s debacle leave no other conclusion to make than we will go down. There are no goals in this side (despite Simeon Jackson making a lively contribution as sub late in the game) and the goal difference is now going south at an alarming rate.
Easter brings matches against fellow bottom four teams, Bournemouth and Port Vale, but present form does nothing to suggest that the result will be anything different from today.
Saturday, 1 March 2008
Gillingham 0 Yeovil Town 0
Match 53/07/670 - Saturday, 1st March 2008 - League One
Gillingham (0) 0
Yeovil Town (0) 0
Att. 5,083
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,297
Match Report
At this stage I'm not guessing whether Gillingham will go down or not, but I am willing to predict that we are going to be in a relegation battle right to the wire and heaven forbid that we need to go to Elland Road on the last day still needing something.
From the moment I heard that Facey and Griffiths were to lead the line I suspected a goalless afternoon. Both worked hard, but they neither created chances or had any created for them. They eventually gave way to Mulligan, who looked to have a good call for a penalty turned down and Jackson, very late on. Whichever pairing Stimson has tried there are very few goals in this squad and that is going to be the reason that a relegation dog-fight seems certain.
Yeovil were awful, forcing Royce into just one comfortable save, and had Maher sent off for dreadful challenge on Simon King, who was stretchered off.
With three of the bottom four seemingly stranded there might be just the one place to avoid. Gillingham now face three successive away games before fellow strugglers Crewe come to Priestfield and unless Stimson pulls a striker of the Chris Dickson calibre out of the hat before the end of the loan window, I fear Gillingham might have a bit of ground to make up when they return home.
Gillingham (0) 0
Yeovil Town (0) 0
Att. 5,083
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/4,297
Match Report
At this stage I'm not guessing whether Gillingham will go down or not, but I am willing to predict that we are going to be in a relegation battle right to the wire and heaven forbid that we need to go to Elland Road on the last day still needing something.
From the moment I heard that Facey and Griffiths were to lead the line I suspected a goalless afternoon. Both worked hard, but they neither created chances or had any created for them. They eventually gave way to Mulligan, who looked to have a good call for a penalty turned down and Jackson, very late on. Whichever pairing Stimson has tried there are very few goals in this squad and that is going to be the reason that a relegation dog-fight seems certain.
Yeovil were awful, forcing Royce into just one comfortable save, and had Maher sent off for dreadful challenge on Simon King, who was stretchered off.
With three of the bottom four seemingly stranded there might be just the one place to avoid. Gillingham now face three successive away games before fellow strugglers Crewe come to Priestfield and unless Stimson pulls a striker of the Chris Dickson calibre out of the hat before the end of the loan window, I fear Gillingham might have a bit of ground to make up when they return home.
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Gillingham 0 Cheltenham Town 0
Match 50/07/667 - Saturday, 2nd February 2008 - League One
Gillingham (0) 0
Cheltenham Town (0) 0
Att. 4,993
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 46/4,126
Match Report
I’ve often said that when you buy a ticket to watch a football match, there have been no reviews and nobody has seen the match before to offer a recommendation. So every now and then something splendid might come along and catch the punter by surprise and sometimes you are served up a complete plateful of dross, unfortunately today was the latter.
This was a lousy game, a lousy result and the attendance figure shows that a lot of people did know in advance exactly what was going to be served up.
The end of the transfer window had brought a new, young striker from Rushden and Diamonds, Simeon Jackson. He looked lively, had a couple of decent strikes on goal, but naturally looked to be trying a little to hard on his debut. He also had to live off scraps and he will quickly realise that goals are going to be harder come-by a couple of levels higher and this is going to be made more difficult when the service was as poor as it was today.
Two others, Barry Fuller and Stuart Lewis made their home debuts, which meant that five of the starting eleven were playing non-league football a couple of months ago, two more came off the bench and Adam Bygrave can be added having come from reserve team football. That is an awful amount of inexperience. Too much, too soon? We’ll have to wait and see, the seeds are now sown.
A crossbar hit for either side was the closest we got to seeing a goal and in truth Cheltenham were equally as bad as Gillingham. The end should have been greeted by cheers as it brought to a finish a thoroughly unsatisfying 90 minutes. Of course it was boos that rang round Priestfield as supporters naturally vented their frustration. It can be argued that helps nobody, but the reaction is natural enough when the fare has been as poor as it was today. Let’s face it, if the reviewer said in advance that the film or the opera you were going to watch was a load of rubbish, you wouldn’t turn up at all.
Gillingham (0) 0
Cheltenham Town (0) 0
Att. 4,993
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 46/4,126
Match Report
I’ve often said that when you buy a ticket to watch a football match, there have been no reviews and nobody has seen the match before to offer a recommendation. So every now and then something splendid might come along and catch the punter by surprise and sometimes you are served up a complete plateful of dross, unfortunately today was the latter.
This was a lousy game, a lousy result and the attendance figure shows that a lot of people did know in advance exactly what was going to be served up.
The end of the transfer window had brought a new, young striker from Rushden and Diamonds, Simeon Jackson. He looked lively, had a couple of decent strikes on goal, but naturally looked to be trying a little to hard on his debut. He also had to live off scraps and he will quickly realise that goals are going to be harder come-by a couple of levels higher and this is going to be made more difficult when the service was as poor as it was today.
Two others, Barry Fuller and Stuart Lewis made their home debuts, which meant that five of the starting eleven were playing non-league football a couple of months ago, two more came off the bench and Adam Bygrave can be added having come from reserve team football. That is an awful amount of inexperience. Too much, too soon? We’ll have to wait and see, the seeds are now sown.
A crossbar hit for either side was the closest we got to seeing a goal and in truth Cheltenham were equally as bad as Gillingham. The end should have been greeted by cheers as it brought to a finish a thoroughly unsatisfying 90 minutes. Of course it was boos that rang round Priestfield as supporters naturally vented their frustration. It can be argued that helps nobody, but the reaction is natural enough when the fare has been as poor as it was today. Let’s face it, if the reviewer said in advance that the film or the opera you were going to watch was a load of rubbish, you wouldn’t turn up at all.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Gillingham 0 Oldham Athletic 0
Match 48/07/665 - Tuesday, 22nd January 2008 - League One
Gillingham (0) 0
Oldham Athletic (0) 0
Att. 4,402
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,952
Match Report
A referee is the making or breaking of any game and all too often at League One level the man in the middle is found wanting. On Saturday Andy D’Urso showed exactly why he is no longer a Premiership referee, but last night we saw a performance from Ian Williamson that made D’Urso look ready for the Champions League.
Simon Royce was sent off on 42 minutes for deliberate handball. These decisions are always controversial and from a spectator’s viewpoint it is hard to judge whereabouts on the body the ball made contact. I felt at the time that the ball had probably brushed Royce’s arms on the way through to rebounding off his chest, is that handball, was it deliberate? The referee made his decision and once he has decided that it was handball a sending off is the only option left open to him.
Gillingham had already been denied a first minute penalty when even from a distance handball seemed to have been committed and a second half challenge on debutant Luis Cumbers clearly warranted a spot kick. All over the pitch Mr Williamson’s decisions were either petty or blatantly wrong. Stuart Thurgood ended the game with his head bandaged having taken a leading elbow from Craig Davies which went unpunished.
The man advantage meant that Oldham had the best of the chances. They are the best side in the Division away from home and Davies and Lee Hughes are a handful for the best of defences. But on the night chances came and went for the tangerine-clad side. Three times they hit the woodwork and an equal amount of opportunities were blazed over the top by the wasteful Davies.
Given the circumstances, I’m readily in agreement with Mark Stimson’s assertion that this was a point gained rather than two lost. They showed great strength of character to overcome the handicap of the loss of a man and there was sterling performances in defence from young Adam Bygrave and John Nutter. The work ethic that Stimson has installed saw Gillingham to a considered successful conclusion to this encounter.
The Priestfield faithful, that were rather sparse on the night with only 4,402 in attendance, responded to the effort and made a noise that befitted far greater numbers, in adversity everybody pulling together. Just a little more consistency is needed, with this applying to both the men in blue and the men in the black.
Gillingham (0) 0
Oldham Athletic (0) 0
Att. 4,402
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,952
Match Report
A referee is the making or breaking of any game and all too often at League One level the man in the middle is found wanting. On Saturday Andy D’Urso showed exactly why he is no longer a Premiership referee, but last night we saw a performance from Ian Williamson that made D’Urso look ready for the Champions League.
Simon Royce was sent off on 42 minutes for deliberate handball. These decisions are always controversial and from a spectator’s viewpoint it is hard to judge whereabouts on the body the ball made contact. I felt at the time that the ball had probably brushed Royce’s arms on the way through to rebounding off his chest, is that handball, was it deliberate? The referee made his decision and once he has decided that it was handball a sending off is the only option left open to him.
Gillingham had already been denied a first minute penalty when even from a distance handball seemed to have been committed and a second half challenge on debutant Luis Cumbers clearly warranted a spot kick. All over the pitch Mr Williamson’s decisions were either petty or blatantly wrong. Stuart Thurgood ended the game with his head bandaged having taken a leading elbow from Craig Davies which went unpunished.
The man advantage meant that Oldham had the best of the chances. They are the best side in the Division away from home and Davies and Lee Hughes are a handful for the best of defences. But on the night chances came and went for the tangerine-clad side. Three times they hit the woodwork and an equal amount of opportunities were blazed over the top by the wasteful Davies.
Given the circumstances, I’m readily in agreement with Mark Stimson’s assertion that this was a point gained rather than two lost. They showed great strength of character to overcome the handicap of the loss of a man and there was sterling performances in defence from young Adam Bygrave and John Nutter. The work ethic that Stimson has installed saw Gillingham to a considered successful conclusion to this encounter.
The Priestfield faithful, that were rather sparse on the night with only 4,402 in attendance, responded to the effort and made a noise that befitted far greater numbers, in adversity everybody pulling together. Just a little more consistency is needed, with this applying to both the men in blue and the men in the black.
Saturday, 19 January 2008
Gillingham 0 Northampton Town 1
Match 47/07/664 - Saturday, 19th January 2008 - League One
Gillingham (0) 0
Northampton Town (1) 1 Jones 3
Att. 5,570
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,907
Gillingham have created a new jinx. After months of waiting for an away win, two come along in the space of little more than a month and this is followed by a disappointing home defeat to teams from the lower reaches of the Division. The victory at Crewe was undone with a home defeat to then bottom-of-the-table Port Vale and a away defeat at Bournemouth, who had taken over Vale’s place at the foot.
Last Saturday saw an impressive victory at Huddersfield, that by all accounts was thoroughly deserved, but today they failed to overturn a Northampton side in poor form.
It might have been guessed that fate was going to play its part. A Radio Northamptonshire commentator spelt out the Cobblers form and problems on Radio Kent prior to the game. No clean sheet in 17 games, two wins in 14, top scorer Andy Kirk had departed during the week, major injury problems, there can be only one winner of this game and they won’t come from Northants he lamented. The type of game Gillingham conspire to lose I thought.
Three minutes in, a doubtful free kick conceded and Danny Jones curled it beautifully into the top right hand corner, leaving Royce motionless. For the next 87 minutes Gillingham had a lot of pressure, and the ball failed to drop invitingly but Northampton’s keeper was not forced to make a meaningful save during the entire game. Corner after corner, cross after cross fell straight into his hands as the home side struggled to make an impression on the game. What the radio man had got it right was upfront as Northampton spurned four chances to put the game to bed, catching Gillingham on the break and carving them open with disturbing ease.
I guess we are going to have to put up with the inconsistency for the rest of the season as this team evolves. Thurgood, Oli, Giffiths, Nutter and Miller’s loans have all been made permanent. Stone, Bryant and Hamilton have all gone out on loan and there are bids in for three players, Fleetwood from Forest Green, Rushden’s Simeon Jackson and possibly, Jon Ashton from Grays. There was plenty of huff and puff this afternoon but with very little quality and once again raised expectations are dashed.
Gillingham (0) 0
Northampton Town (1) 1 Jones 3
Att. 5,570
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,907
Gillingham have created a new jinx. After months of waiting for an away win, two come along in the space of little more than a month and this is followed by a disappointing home defeat to teams from the lower reaches of the Division. The victory at Crewe was undone with a home defeat to then bottom-of-the-table Port Vale and a away defeat at Bournemouth, who had taken over Vale’s place at the foot.
Last Saturday saw an impressive victory at Huddersfield, that by all accounts was thoroughly deserved, but today they failed to overturn a Northampton side in poor form.
It might have been guessed that fate was going to play its part. A Radio Northamptonshire commentator spelt out the Cobblers form and problems on Radio Kent prior to the game. No clean sheet in 17 games, two wins in 14, top scorer Andy Kirk had departed during the week, major injury problems, there can be only one winner of this game and they won’t come from Northants he lamented. The type of game Gillingham conspire to lose I thought.
Three minutes in, a doubtful free kick conceded and Danny Jones curled it beautifully into the top right hand corner, leaving Royce motionless. For the next 87 minutes Gillingham had a lot of pressure, and the ball failed to drop invitingly but Northampton’s keeper was not forced to make a meaningful save during the entire game. Corner after corner, cross after cross fell straight into his hands as the home side struggled to make an impression on the game. What the radio man had got it right was upfront as Northampton spurned four chances to put the game to bed, catching Gillingham on the break and carving them open with disturbing ease.
I guess we are going to have to put up with the inconsistency for the rest of the season as this team evolves. Thurgood, Oli, Giffiths, Nutter and Miller’s loans have all been made permanent. Stone, Bryant and Hamilton have all gone out on loan and there are bids in for three players, Fleetwood from Forest Green, Rushden’s Simeon Jackson and possibly, Jon Ashton from Grays. There was plenty of huff and puff this afternoon but with very little quality and once again raised expectations are dashed.
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Gillingham 1 Milton Keynes Dons 1
Match 45/07/662 - Tuesday, 8th January 2008 - JPT Area SF
Gillingham (0) 1 Stone 84
Milton Keynes Dons (0) 1 Johnson 85
MK Dons win 5-4 on penalties
Att. 3,717
Entrance: £15
Programme: £1
Mileage: 45/3,836
Match Report
A semi-final tag was all that was needed to drag me along to Priestfield and stump up the £15 entrance for this Paint Pot match. In all its guises over the last 25 years this has never been a successful competition for Gillingham, a couple of area semi-finals being the most achieved. It has been a competition that I’ve mostly given a miss and when I’ve turned up there have been some truly awful performances and shocking results. Torquay turning us over to the tune of three goals at Priestfield and the disappointment of the golden goal at the New Den in an area semi final.
On a windy night with squally heavy showers and a entire midfield suspended hopes were not that high that a favourable result would be the outcome against a MK Dons side that had climbed to the top, and opened up a significant gap, of League Two.
MK Dons are not a side to be loved. Their entrance into the Football League in 2003 was met with opposition from football supporters nationwide. Chairman Pete Winkleman had purchased the old Wimbledon club and moved it to Milton Keynes with the unlikely authorisation of the FA. The club was dubbed Franchise FC and everybody hoped they would get their come-uppance in the fullness of time. This has not happened as the club has gone from strength to strength. They have a shiny new stadium, a solid fan base far in excess of the numbers at Selhurst Park and now a team that is on the up under the guidance of Paul Ince, a manager perhaps destined for even higher reaches.
The match itself was really poor and hardly befitting of its pseudo semi-final tag. After 80 lifeless minutes it exploded with two goals in a minute. Gillingham surprisingly taking the lead on 84 with a touch in by Craig Stone, only for the home side to concede 30 seconds later. A penalty shoot out provided the climax for the game and such is mine and Gillingham’s luck with these finishes that it just had to end in disappointment. I remember Gills winning one years ago at Brighton, but I haven’t witnessed another success and as for England, well we all know that they don’t win shoot-outs.
Ultimately it was young substitute Luis Cumbers that ended up the villain as his penalty hit a post after being delayed in taking it whilst the referee decided that after eight previously successful attempts the crowd behind the goal were becoming a invasion threat.
My banner headline to this blog hopes that the season will end back at Wembley with Gillingham. A truly unlikely run to the end of the season is now needed to push into a play off place, not impossible but highly implausible.
By a strange coincidence, the FA Trophy brings AFC Wimbledon to Tonbridge on Saturday. The breakaway club formed following the relocation of the old Dons are also doing very nicely thank you and one day the paths of these two will have to cross. Justice will be that AFC take the honours.
Gillingham (0) 1 Stone 84
Milton Keynes Dons (0) 1 Johnson 85
MK Dons win 5-4 on penalties
Att. 3,717
Entrance: £15
Programme: £1
Mileage: 45/3,836
Match Report
A semi-final tag was all that was needed to drag me along to Priestfield and stump up the £15 entrance for this Paint Pot match. In all its guises over the last 25 years this has never been a successful competition for Gillingham, a couple of area semi-finals being the most achieved. It has been a competition that I’ve mostly given a miss and when I’ve turned up there have been some truly awful performances and shocking results. Torquay turning us over to the tune of three goals at Priestfield and the disappointment of the golden goal at the New Den in an area semi final.
On a windy night with squally heavy showers and a entire midfield suspended hopes were not that high that a favourable result would be the outcome against a MK Dons side that had climbed to the top, and opened up a significant gap, of League Two.
MK Dons are not a side to be loved. Their entrance into the Football League in 2003 was met with opposition from football supporters nationwide. Chairman Pete Winkleman had purchased the old Wimbledon club and moved it to Milton Keynes with the unlikely authorisation of the FA. The club was dubbed Franchise FC and everybody hoped they would get their come-uppance in the fullness of time. This has not happened as the club has gone from strength to strength. They have a shiny new stadium, a solid fan base far in excess of the numbers at Selhurst Park and now a team that is on the up under the guidance of Paul Ince, a manager perhaps destined for even higher reaches.
The match itself was really poor and hardly befitting of its pseudo semi-final tag. After 80 lifeless minutes it exploded with two goals in a minute. Gillingham surprisingly taking the lead on 84 with a touch in by Craig Stone, only for the home side to concede 30 seconds later. A penalty shoot out provided the climax for the game and such is mine and Gillingham’s luck with these finishes that it just had to end in disappointment. I remember Gills winning one years ago at Brighton, but I haven’t witnessed another success and as for England, well we all know that they don’t win shoot-outs.
Ultimately it was young substitute Luis Cumbers that ended up the villain as his penalty hit a post after being delayed in taking it whilst the referee decided that after eight previously successful attempts the crowd behind the goal were becoming a invasion threat.
My banner headline to this blog hopes that the season will end back at Wembley with Gillingham. A truly unlikely run to the end of the season is now needed to push into a play off place, not impossible but highly implausible.
By a strange coincidence, the FA Trophy brings AFC Wimbledon to Tonbridge on Saturday. The breakaway club formed following the relocation of the old Dons are also doing very nicely thank you and one day the paths of these two will have to cross. Justice will be that AFC take the honours.
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Gillingham 3 Nottingham Forest 0
Match 42/07/659 - Saturday, 29th December 2007 - League One
Gillingham (0) 3 Mulligan 49 Miller 61 Griffiths 81
Nottingham Forest (0) 0
Att. 7,712
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,649
Match Report
Brian Clough, Peter Taylor, John McGovern, Roy Dwight, Kenny Burns, Kenneth Clarke, Larry Lloyd, Trevor Francis, Ian Storey-Moore, Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Colin Calderwood . . . your lads took one hell of a beating.
Oh My God, just where did this Gillingham appear from? On the pitch this afternoon were players that grafted, players that showed no shortage of ability, courageous performances, they were a TEAM.
I hold my hands up, I feared an embarrassment and the Boxing Day version of Gillingham had given me no reason to think otherwise. Perhaps Forest turned up with the complacency of their fans who had peppered the message boards with foul-mouthed exultations that they were to visit our piss-pot of a ground for the very last time before they rise to their rightful place among football’s elite, after all they are a giant of a club, erstwhile European Champions, but of another century and to coin the ditty, your not famous anymore.
At half-time and 0-0 Gillingham had ridden their luck to a certain extent with Simon Royce as usual making important saves, but doubtless there was an improvement in the performance that gave a fragment of hope that a point might yet be gleaned from this no chance fixture.
As the home side attacked the Rainham End, from the beginning of the second half it was Nottingham Forest that appeared vulnerable at the back and when keeper Paul Smith spilled a good strike from Andrew Crofts, the recalled Gary Mulligan was on hand to tap home the rebound. The home crowd were now rising to the occasion and after Crofts had spurned an opportunity, a ball broke on the edge of the box to Adam Miller and this time there was no fluke as his well hit 20-yarder screamed past the helpless Smith.
Mulligan made way for Leroy Griffiths, useless muttered the author of this blog, and ten minutes later he latched onto a dreadful back pass and smashed an unstoppable shot past Smith to send Priestfield into absolute ecstasy and the away end emptying as fast as they could get down those piss-pot steps.
Three games without a win had left the Gillingham faithful questioning the wisdom of bringing in players from outside of the Football League, today they stepped up to the plate. Let’s get the jokes of having a Nutter in the dressing room out of the way as John Nutter made his first start and proved an accomplished full back and had Simon King not had such an outstanding game would have been a contender for man of the match.
Wonderful match, superb entertainment, and if those Forest fans are proven correct then they will want to forget their final visit to that piss pot ground in the Medway Towns.
Gillingham (0) 3 Mulligan 49 Miller 61 Griffiths 81
Nottingham Forest (0) 0
Att. 7,712
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,649
Match Report
Brian Clough, Peter Taylor, John McGovern, Roy Dwight, Kenny Burns, Kenneth Clarke, Larry Lloyd, Trevor Francis, Ian Storey-Moore, Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Colin Calderwood . . . your lads took one hell of a beating.
Oh My God, just where did this Gillingham appear from? On the pitch this afternoon were players that grafted, players that showed no shortage of ability, courageous performances, they were a TEAM.
I hold my hands up, I feared an embarrassment and the Boxing Day version of Gillingham had given me no reason to think otherwise. Perhaps Forest turned up with the complacency of their fans who had peppered the message boards with foul-mouthed exultations that they were to visit our piss-pot of a ground for the very last time before they rise to their rightful place among football’s elite, after all they are a giant of a club, erstwhile European Champions, but of another century and to coin the ditty, your not famous anymore.
At half-time and 0-0 Gillingham had ridden their luck to a certain extent with Simon Royce as usual making important saves, but doubtless there was an improvement in the performance that gave a fragment of hope that a point might yet be gleaned from this no chance fixture.
As the home side attacked the Rainham End, from the beginning of the second half it was Nottingham Forest that appeared vulnerable at the back and when keeper Paul Smith spilled a good strike from Andrew Crofts, the recalled Gary Mulligan was on hand to tap home the rebound. The home crowd were now rising to the occasion and after Crofts had spurned an opportunity, a ball broke on the edge of the box to Adam Miller and this time there was no fluke as his well hit 20-yarder screamed past the helpless Smith.
Mulligan made way for Leroy Griffiths, useless muttered the author of this blog, and ten minutes later he latched onto a dreadful back pass and smashed an unstoppable shot past Smith to send Priestfield into absolute ecstasy and the away end emptying as fast as they could get down those piss-pot steps.
Three games without a win had left the Gillingham faithful questioning the wisdom of bringing in players from outside of the Football League, today they stepped up to the plate. Let’s get the jokes of having a Nutter in the dressing room out of the way as John Nutter made his first start and proved an accomplished full back and had Simon King not had such an outstanding game would have been a contender for man of the match.
Wonderful match, superb entertainment, and if those Forest fans are proven correct then they will want to forget their final visit to that piss pot ground in the Medway Towns.
Friday, 28 December 2007
Gillingham 1 Southend United 1
Match 41/07/658 - Wednesday, 26th December 2007 - League One
Gillingham (0) 1 Miller 89
Southend United (0) 1 P. Clarke 54
Att. 8,268
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,604
Match Report
Gillingham got a fair old roasting but somehow managed to avoid a Christmas stuffing in this Boxing Day encounter and in keeping with the festive season were gifted a fluke 89th minute goal when Adam Miller saw his cross deceive everybody to nestle into the bottom corner.
To say that Gillingham were second best implies there was two runners, in truth for much of this match there was only one team in it and if Southend had capitalised on half of their chances they would have been home and hosed by half time. But if chances are not taken then the dominant side is open to the type of unfortunate finish that befell Southend this time and has certainly happened to Gillingham in the past.
Southend are a decent side, sitting on the edge of a play-off spot, looking perfectly capable of breaking into the top six. Tommy Black showed exactly what we are missing having failed to secure his signature after a successful loan spell last term. Craig Armstrong is not exactly having the best spell of his career and Black had him tied in knots and chasing shadows for much of his time on the pitch.
Gillingham lacked any invention in midfield, changed plans midway through the first half to add some width, but Plan B looked as largely ineffective as Plan A. Despite shipping a fair few chances, King and his stand-in partner Bentley coped manfully with the intimidating challenge of Leon Clarke and Charlie McDonald and when they managed to get a shot on target England’s Number One, Simon Royce was equal to the task. If I haven’t mentioned it before, the voting for the Player of the Year should be cancelled and the trophy given to Royce immediately.
After finally going in front, Southend strangely gave up their initiative and embarked on a time-wasting mission that wound up everybody and eventually was their undoing with the final freak finish. In the time added on Stuart Thurgood committed the type of foul that has to be eradicated from the game and deservedly saw red.
Prior to the Christmas holiday, Mr Scally pushed through his restructuring plans at a EGM and the ownership of Priestfield Stadium will pass to the chairman’s Priestfield Developments in the near future. History will now record whether this was the club’s salvation or its demise.
Gillingham (0) 1 Miller 89
Southend United (0) 1 P. Clarke 54
Att. 8,268
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,604
Match Report
Gillingham got a fair old roasting but somehow managed to avoid a Christmas stuffing in this Boxing Day encounter and in keeping with the festive season were gifted a fluke 89th minute goal when Adam Miller saw his cross deceive everybody to nestle into the bottom corner.
To say that Gillingham were second best implies there was two runners, in truth for much of this match there was only one team in it and if Southend had capitalised on half of their chances they would have been home and hosed by half time. But if chances are not taken then the dominant side is open to the type of unfortunate finish that befell Southend this time and has certainly happened to Gillingham in the past.
Southend are a decent side, sitting on the edge of a play-off spot, looking perfectly capable of breaking into the top six. Tommy Black showed exactly what we are missing having failed to secure his signature after a successful loan spell last term. Craig Armstrong is not exactly having the best spell of his career and Black had him tied in knots and chasing shadows for much of his time on the pitch.
Gillingham lacked any invention in midfield, changed plans midway through the first half to add some width, but Plan B looked as largely ineffective as Plan A. Despite shipping a fair few chances, King and his stand-in partner Bentley coped manfully with the intimidating challenge of Leon Clarke and Charlie McDonald and when they managed to get a shot on target England’s Number One, Simon Royce was equal to the task. If I haven’t mentioned it before, the voting for the Player of the Year should be cancelled and the trophy given to Royce immediately.
After finally going in front, Southend strangely gave up their initiative and embarked on a time-wasting mission that wound up everybody and eventually was their undoing with the final freak finish. In the time added on Stuart Thurgood committed the type of foul that has to be eradicated from the game and deservedly saw red.
Prior to the Christmas holiday, Mr Scally pushed through his restructuring plans at a EGM and the ownership of Priestfield Stadium will pass to the chairman’s Priestfield Developments in the near future. History will now record whether this was the club’s salvation or its demise.
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Gillingham 1 Port Vale 2
Match 36/07/653 - Saturday, 8th December 2007 - League One
Gillingham (1) 1 Dickson 32
Port Vale (2) 2 Willock 34 King o.g. 45
Att. 7,001
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,148
Match Report
In atrocious conditions, a surprising defeat to end a week where time is going to be the arbiter on how momentous these few days have been in the history of Gillingham Football Club.
On the field, at Crewe on Tuesday, a first away win of the season after seven defeats out of eight, raised spirits and expectation to new heights, only for them to be dampened in the driving rain at Priestfield by bottom of the table Port Vale. In fairness to Gillingham, it wasn’t a game they deserved to lose, they had the majority of the possession throughout the whole game, created several half-chances, but could not conjure up the equaliser.
The scoring was condensed into a 13 minute spell. Gills went one up when Chris Dickson finished after a superb through ball from Adam Miller, who was heart and soul all afternoon. But lack of concentration (and rank poor defending) let Vale back almost immediately and when Simon King turned a half-hit shot into his own net, a comfortable afternoon had turned into an uphill struggle.
To their credit, the home side drove on during the second half as relentlessly as the rain fell, and whilst there were a few boos at the final whistle, the majority probably appreciated and to a certain extent were reassured by the endeavour that had been shown in awful conditions. A disappointing end to a 10 game run unbeaten at home.
Off the field, shareholders and supporters alike were finally privy to the restructuring of the Club's debt that has supposedly met with the Bank's approval. The bare bones of a complex financial document are that Priestfield Stadium is to be sold to Priestfield Developments for £9.8 million, thereby reducing the Club's debt to a more manageable £3 million and interest payments from £800K to £200K per annum. That is the easy bit. Where the issue becomes clouded is the 100 per cent ownership of Priestfield Developments by the chairman of Gillingham Football Club, Mr Paul Scally.
The modern day equivalent of the letters page in the local paper, the internet message board is full to the rafters with differing viewpoints from Scally the Saviour to Scally the Swagman. So diverse are the opinions it is impossible to form any consensus, there is the obvious anti-Scally faction, over the years the chairman has managed to piss off enough people that whatever he did on this issue was going to be wrong. At the other end of the scale he has supporters that are going to take him and his plan at face value and run with it. I find this difficult to do because there are more than a few unanswered questions.
Firstly, where has PDPS found the £9.8 million to "buy" Priestfield. Of course, I and any other person with an interest, have no idea as to the state of his bank account, but I very much doubt that an amount of that magnitude is coming out of his personal wealth. So, if we assume that the majority of the money is borrowed, who is going to be paying the interest on that particular loan in the coming years whilst football continues to be played at our home ground?
The published terms see the Club given a 10 year lease, with the first three years rent-free, and thereafter for a fee to be negotiated in relation to the club’s divisional status. So far so good, but what if somebody comes in with a silly money offer for the site? Ultimately, Mr Scally is a businessman and would sentimentality overcome a hard-headed business decision, I fear not.
There is an easy logic that shows that the deal is a good one for Mr Scally. It may not be worth it now, but valuations have been put on the ground as high as £14 million. Whilst the housing market might be a little slow right now, that is not going to last for ever and it is reasonable to assume that within the tenure of the lease the £14m figure will be equalled if not surpassed. Just using those figures available, a £4.2 million (or virtually 50%) return on his investment would appear to be fairly healthy, even if it went to the full term, and who is to say what the value might be in 2017.
We need to see a new ground firmly in our sights with all the planning permissions and finance in place for the spectre of Gillingham Football Club following in the footsteps of Brighton & Hove Albion and their nemesis, Bill Archer, to be dispelled.
The chairman explains.
Gillingham (1) 1 Dickson 32
Port Vale (2) 2 Willock 34 King o.g. 45
Att. 7,001
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,148
Match Report
In atrocious conditions, a surprising defeat to end a week where time is going to be the arbiter on how momentous these few days have been in the history of Gillingham Football Club.
On the field, at Crewe on Tuesday, a first away win of the season after seven defeats out of eight, raised spirits and expectation to new heights, only for them to be dampened in the driving rain at Priestfield by bottom of the table Port Vale. In fairness to Gillingham, it wasn’t a game they deserved to lose, they had the majority of the possession throughout the whole game, created several half-chances, but could not conjure up the equaliser.
The scoring was condensed into a 13 minute spell. Gills went one up when Chris Dickson finished after a superb through ball from Adam Miller, who was heart and soul all afternoon. But lack of concentration (and rank poor defending) let Vale back almost immediately and when Simon King turned a half-hit shot into his own net, a comfortable afternoon had turned into an uphill struggle.
To their credit, the home side drove on during the second half as relentlessly as the rain fell, and whilst there were a few boos at the final whistle, the majority probably appreciated and to a certain extent were reassured by the endeavour that had been shown in awful conditions. A disappointing end to a 10 game run unbeaten at home.
Off the field, shareholders and supporters alike were finally privy to the restructuring of the Club's debt that has supposedly met with the Bank's approval. The bare bones of a complex financial document are that Priestfield Stadium is to be sold to Priestfield Developments for £9.8 million, thereby reducing the Club's debt to a more manageable £3 million and interest payments from £800K to £200K per annum. That is the easy bit. Where the issue becomes clouded is the 100 per cent ownership of Priestfield Developments by the chairman of Gillingham Football Club, Mr Paul Scally.
The modern day equivalent of the letters page in the local paper, the internet message board is full to the rafters with differing viewpoints from Scally the Saviour to Scally the Swagman. So diverse are the opinions it is impossible to form any consensus, there is the obvious anti-Scally faction, over the years the chairman has managed to piss off enough people that whatever he did on this issue was going to be wrong. At the other end of the scale he has supporters that are going to take him and his plan at face value and run with it. I find this difficult to do because there are more than a few unanswered questions.
Firstly, where has PDPS found the £9.8 million to "buy" Priestfield. Of course, I and any other person with an interest, have no idea as to the state of his bank account, but I very much doubt that an amount of that magnitude is coming out of his personal wealth. So, if we assume that the majority of the money is borrowed, who is going to be paying the interest on that particular loan in the coming years whilst football continues to be played at our home ground?
The published terms see the Club given a 10 year lease, with the first three years rent-free, and thereafter for a fee to be negotiated in relation to the club’s divisional status. So far so good, but what if somebody comes in with a silly money offer for the site? Ultimately, Mr Scally is a businessman and would sentimentality overcome a hard-headed business decision, I fear not.
There is an easy logic that shows that the deal is a good one for Mr Scally. It may not be worth it now, but valuations have been put on the ground as high as £14 million. Whilst the housing market might be a little slow right now, that is not going to last for ever and it is reasonable to assume that within the tenure of the lease the £14m figure will be equalled if not surpassed. Just using those figures available, a £4.2 million (or virtually 50%) return on his investment would appear to be fairly healthy, even if it went to the full term, and who is to say what the value might be in 2017.
We need to see a new ground firmly in our sights with all the planning permissions and finance in place for the spectre of Gillingham Football Club following in the footsteps of Brighton & Hove Albion and their nemesis, Bill Archer, to be dispelled.
The chairman explains.
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Gillingham 2 Hartlepool 1
Match 34/07/651 - Saturday, 24th November 2007 - League One
Gillingham (0) 2 Oli 46, 60
Hartlepool (1) 1 Brown 25
Att. 5,488
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,077
Match Report
Today resembled the first day at Secondary School. Lots of new faces to take in, names that you cannot put to faces, some of the lads look a bit bigger and some smaller than you. So it was at Priestfield with potentially eight new names on the team sheet for the first time in a home league match. Luke Freeman, a 15-year-old debutant in the FA Cup at Barnet to be added to the seven new signings. Mark Stimson has raided his old clubs Grays for Dennis Oli and Stuart Thurgood and Stevenage for Adam Miller and John Nutter. He also had at his disposal Adam Bygrave from Reading, Shabazz Baidoo (what a name!) from QPR and Leroy Griffiths from Grays, but more recently playing at Lewes.
Ultimately, Oli, Griffiths, Thurgood and Bygrave made the starting line-up with Miller and Freeman coming on from the bench. It was not surprising therefore that Gillingham played the first half with the look of a bunch of strangers cobbled together for a football match. Evident was Thurgood’s almost over-enthusiasm and Bygrave’s obvious lack of experience, but the disjointed 45 minutes contributed to a 1-0 half time deficit.
Pre-Stimson, Gillingham have been a team that has been criticised for a lack of spirit and to hark back to Barnet, gutless. Stimson’s Gillingham will be a team that might be short on quality at present, but they will not go down without a fight. Within a minute of the restart, Griffiths lofted a ball over the top for Oli to run onto and lob the keeper. On the hour it was all Oli’s own work as he run through challenges to finish with some style. On this showing it is not hard to see why Oli scored plenty at Conference level, he has both pace and a eye for goal. During this second half, Thurgood snapped away like a little terrier, Stimson, interviewed after the game, likened him to Andy Hessenthaler, another late entry into the Football League, and the comparison can be justified. The last 15 minutes saw Gillingham sinking back towards their own penalty area, a Jepson trait that will be coached out by Stimson hopefully. But they manfully saw it out with Miller chasing down everything up front and rightly taking plaudits for his efforts.
This is the type of spirit that fans will warm to. Nobody is naïve enough to think we are Arsenal, but conversely will not tolerate a lack of effort or spirit. Stimson has made a great start, results have been good but not spectacular, but there is an air of positivity about the place and despite the fact that he is tapping into his non-league roots for his signings, his judgement is not being questioned.
My own opinion is that too much ground has been lost under Jepson to make any real assault on the top half of the table this season, but a sound foundation can be built in the coming months to take into next season.
Gillingham (0) 2 Oli 46, 60
Hartlepool (1) 1 Brown 25
Att. 5,488
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/3,077
Match Report
Today resembled the first day at Secondary School. Lots of new faces to take in, names that you cannot put to faces, some of the lads look a bit bigger and some smaller than you. So it was at Priestfield with potentially eight new names on the team sheet for the first time in a home league match. Luke Freeman, a 15-year-old debutant in the FA Cup at Barnet to be added to the seven new signings. Mark Stimson has raided his old clubs Grays for Dennis Oli and Stuart Thurgood and Stevenage for Adam Miller and John Nutter. He also had at his disposal Adam Bygrave from Reading, Shabazz Baidoo (what a name!) from QPR and Leroy Griffiths from Grays, but more recently playing at Lewes.
Ultimately, Oli, Griffiths, Thurgood and Bygrave made the starting line-up with Miller and Freeman coming on from the bench. It was not surprising therefore that Gillingham played the first half with the look of a bunch of strangers cobbled together for a football match. Evident was Thurgood’s almost over-enthusiasm and Bygrave’s obvious lack of experience, but the disjointed 45 minutes contributed to a 1-0 half time deficit.
Pre-Stimson, Gillingham have been a team that has been criticised for a lack of spirit and to hark back to Barnet, gutless. Stimson’s Gillingham will be a team that might be short on quality at present, but they will not go down without a fight. Within a minute of the restart, Griffiths lofted a ball over the top for Oli to run onto and lob the keeper. On the hour it was all Oli’s own work as he run through challenges to finish with some style. On this showing it is not hard to see why Oli scored plenty at Conference level, he has both pace and a eye for goal. During this second half, Thurgood snapped away like a little terrier, Stimson, interviewed after the game, likened him to Andy Hessenthaler, another late entry into the Football League, and the comparison can be justified. The last 15 minutes saw Gillingham sinking back towards their own penalty area, a Jepson trait that will be coached out by Stimson hopefully. But they manfully saw it out with Miller chasing down everything up front and rightly taking plaudits for his efforts.
This is the type of spirit that fans will warm to. Nobody is naïve enough to think we are Arsenal, but conversely will not tolerate a lack of effort or spirit. Stimson has made a great start, results have been good but not spectacular, but there is an air of positivity about the place and despite the fact that he is tapping into his non-league roots for his signings, his judgement is not being questioned.
My own opinion is that too much ground has been lost under Jepson to make any real assault on the top half of the table this season, but a sound foundation can be built in the coming months to take into next season.
Thursday, 8 November 2007
Gillingham 1 Doncaster Rovers 1
Match 27/07/644 - Tuesday, 5th November 2007 - League One
Gillingham (1) 1 Dickson 18
Doncaster Rovers (0) 1 Hayter (pen) 65
Att. 5,030
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,845
Match Report
It is said that the first attribute you need from a manager is for him to be a lucky one. Perhaps in Mark Stimson we have gained a man with that very precious gift.
In his first game, on the back of a strike from Delroy Facey, the like of which we have not seen since he joined and opponents Swansea then making life even more difficult for themselves playing for 65 minutes with ten men by hook or by crook Gillngham hold on to secure their first point with the aid of a missed penalty. Lucky, perhaps we’ll call it spirited defending.
Against Doncaster on Tuesday evening, Gillingham once again got off to a great start with a very good goal from Chris Dickson and spurn the chance to go 2-up when Facey smashed a penalty against the bar (why, oh why did he need to hit it so hard?). From that point on, it was backs against the wall as Doncaster carved them apart with comparative ease but contrived to miss chance after chance. Eventually after a period when Simon Royce seemed to be playing the visitors alone, Donny got themselves a penalty and James Hayter showed considerably more composure than Facey.
As Gillingham fell into their old ways and defended ever deeper, Doncaster launched waves of attacks that were repelled with a mixture of attributes shown at Swansea, spirited defending and good old lady luck.
The fine home run continues and as this game reached its final whistle, none of the home support could deny that it was a point gained. Stimson may be able to take credit that a steely determination has become apparent and that for the present, good fortune is looking down on us.
Gillingham (1) 1 Dickson 18
Doncaster Rovers (0) 1 Hayter (pen) 65
Att. 5,030
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,845
Match Report
It is said that the first attribute you need from a manager is for him to be a lucky one. Perhaps in Mark Stimson we have gained a man with that very precious gift.
In his first game, on the back of a strike from Delroy Facey, the like of which we have not seen since he joined and opponents Swansea then making life even more difficult for themselves playing for 65 minutes with ten men by hook or by crook Gillngham hold on to secure their first point with the aid of a missed penalty. Lucky, perhaps we’ll call it spirited defending.
Against Doncaster on Tuesday evening, Gillingham once again got off to a great start with a very good goal from Chris Dickson and spurn the chance to go 2-up when Facey smashed a penalty against the bar (why, oh why did he need to hit it so hard?). From that point on, it was backs against the wall as Doncaster carved them apart with comparative ease but contrived to miss chance after chance. Eventually after a period when Simon Royce seemed to be playing the visitors alone, Donny got themselves a penalty and James Hayter showed considerably more composure than Facey.
As Gillingham fell into their old ways and defended ever deeper, Doncaster launched waves of attacks that were repelled with a mixture of attributes shown at Swansea, spirited defending and good old lady luck.
The fine home run continues and as this game reached its final whistle, none of the home support could deny that it was a point gained. Stimson may be able to take credit that a steely determination has become apparent and that for the present, good fortune is looking down on us.
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Gillingham 3 Bristol Rovers 2
Match 25/07/642 - Saturday, 27th October 2007 - League One
Gillingham (1) 3 Brown 20 Graham 85 Dickson 89
Bristol Rovers (1) 2 Lambert 27 Piper 46
Att. 5,333
Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,774
Match Report
Somebody famous once coined the phrase “it’s a funny old game” and how right Greavesie was. At about 75 minutes and 2-1 down, Priestfield was turning on their own team. Misplaced passes were being greeted with boos and derision, but at least this showed a bit of passion and interest, unlike the first half that had been met with total apathy from both teams and supporters alike. Two goals in the last five minutes won it for Gillingham and the previous 85 minutes were forgotten as the home side were cheered from the pitch, short-term memory loss for a percentage of those in attendance.
The management state of limbo continues and now runs into its third month. How can it take so long to appoint a manager? When Ronnie Jepson resigned eight weeks ago, I wrote that if Paul Scally jumped in quickly then the appointment would probably be from within and that would show a lack of ambition, well nobody can accuse Mr Scally of an impulsive decision. Gossip has seen names brought to the fore, but the silence from the club has been deafening. Whilst we have been deliberating, Millwall, Leicester, Lincoln, Port Vale and Chelsea(!) have all parted company with their managers and are now competing with Gillingham for the services of the “right man”. Strangely enough all of the names are still available. Mark Stimson appeared to be a racing certainty when he resigned from Stevenage, whose chairman went on to make acrimonious comments directed at Gillingham. But that was a fortnight ago, and he now seems to be making overtures to Lincoln City. Peter Taylor also departed Crystal Palace at an opportune time, but stronger money is that he will turn up at Stevenage. Steve McMahon’s name rose to the top on the back of a Scally comment about the candidate being abroad and just as quickly sunk to the bottom. Martin Allen hasn’t accepted anywhere yet, similarly Brian Little.
All this is completely unsatisfactory and you have to feel for Iffy Onuora. He now manfully soldiers on, having lost his first lieutenant Mick Docherty following the Swindon debacle. He says all the right things, going about his everyday business until such times that he is told he is no longer needed at the helm.He has maintained the home form, the unbeaten run now extending to eight games, but results on the road show no signs of improvement.
In truth, the general negativity at Priestfield is not driven by results alone, as said Gillingham’s home form, where the vast majority watch, is good. People have grown tired of logging into, by any means of communication on a daily basis, just to hear that there is no news. If we cannot get our man, whoever it is and for whatever reason, then Iffy should be given the job for the rest of the season and end the uncertainty.
Away from Priestfield was the bitter disappointment that Tonbridge had fallen at the last qualifying hurdle with a 3-1 defeat at Ware. Hopes had been high that a 35 year wait for a FA Cup First Round entry would be brought to an end at their Division One North opponents, but sadly they were well beaten.
Gillingham (1) 3 Brown 20 Graham 85 Dickson 89
Bristol Rovers (1) 2 Lambert 27 Piper 46
Att. 5,333
Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,774
Match Report
Somebody famous once coined the phrase “it’s a funny old game” and how right Greavesie was. At about 75 minutes and 2-1 down, Priestfield was turning on their own team. Misplaced passes were being greeted with boos and derision, but at least this showed a bit of passion and interest, unlike the first half that had been met with total apathy from both teams and supporters alike. Two goals in the last five minutes won it for Gillingham and the previous 85 minutes were forgotten as the home side were cheered from the pitch, short-term memory loss for a percentage of those in attendance.
The management state of limbo continues and now runs into its third month. How can it take so long to appoint a manager? When Ronnie Jepson resigned eight weeks ago, I wrote that if Paul Scally jumped in quickly then the appointment would probably be from within and that would show a lack of ambition, well nobody can accuse Mr Scally of an impulsive decision. Gossip has seen names brought to the fore, but the silence from the club has been deafening. Whilst we have been deliberating, Millwall, Leicester, Lincoln, Port Vale and Chelsea(!) have all parted company with their managers and are now competing with Gillingham for the services of the “right man”. Strangely enough all of the names are still available. Mark Stimson appeared to be a racing certainty when he resigned from Stevenage, whose chairman went on to make acrimonious comments directed at Gillingham. But that was a fortnight ago, and he now seems to be making overtures to Lincoln City. Peter Taylor also departed Crystal Palace at an opportune time, but stronger money is that he will turn up at Stevenage. Steve McMahon’s name rose to the top on the back of a Scally comment about the candidate being abroad and just as quickly sunk to the bottom. Martin Allen hasn’t accepted anywhere yet, similarly Brian Little.
All this is completely unsatisfactory and you have to feel for Iffy Onuora. He now manfully soldiers on, having lost his first lieutenant Mick Docherty following the Swindon debacle. He says all the right things, going about his everyday business until such times that he is told he is no longer needed at the helm.He has maintained the home form, the unbeaten run now extending to eight games, but results on the road show no signs of improvement.
In truth, the general negativity at Priestfield is not driven by results alone, as said Gillingham’s home form, where the vast majority watch, is good. People have grown tired of logging into, by any means of communication on a daily basis, just to hear that there is no news. If we cannot get our man, whoever it is and for whatever reason, then Iffy should be given the job for the rest of the season and end the uncertainty.
Away from Priestfield was the bitter disappointment that Tonbridge had fallen at the last qualifying hurdle with a 3-1 defeat at Ware. Hopes had been high that a 35 year wait for a FA Cup First Round entry would be brought to an end at their Division One North opponents, but sadly they were well beaten.
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Gillingham 3 Leyton Orient 1
Match 20/07/637 - Tuesday, 2nd October 2007 - League One
Gillingham (1) 3 Graham 25, 50 Cogan 67
Leyton Orient (0) 1 Ibehre 67
Att. 5,632
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,438
Match Report
If this is to be the caretakership's last time in charge they signed off with a fine victory against top-of-the-table Orient who had previously won each of their four away games this season. Almost certainly, if we are reading between the lines correctly, Iffy and the Doc will not be offered the position, but they leave the post in credit having won a couple with a draw and a defeat. The quality of the football has improved, the grass is being used and the spirit has risen.
Once David Graham had opened the scoring with his first goal for the club, a 25 yard strike that rocketed into the bottom left, Gillingham took control and when Cogan also netted his first goal for the club to put them three up there seemed no way back for the Orient. But a 67th minute goal brought the nightmare of last season's visit to Brisbane Road to the fore when, with 12 minutes to go and 3-0 up, Gillingham conceded three times to full back Matt Lockwood and could so easily have lost the game. This time there was no Lockwood, but Simon Royce was brought into action on a good half-a-dozen times to prevent Orient from plundering a point.
Paul Scally has indicated that he has made his choice and if his candidate accepts the job then there seems no reason for that person not to be installed by Saturday's visit to Swindon.
Gillingham (1) 3 Graham 25, 50 Cogan 67
Leyton Orient (0) 1 Ibehre 67
Att. 5,632
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,438
Match Report
If this is to be the caretakership's last time in charge they signed off with a fine victory against top-of-the-table Orient who had previously won each of their four away games this season. Almost certainly, if we are reading between the lines correctly, Iffy and the Doc will not be offered the position, but they leave the post in credit having won a couple with a draw and a defeat. The quality of the football has improved, the grass is being used and the spirit has risen.
Once David Graham had opened the scoring with his first goal for the club, a 25 yard strike that rocketed into the bottom left, Gillingham took control and when Cogan also netted his first goal for the club to put them three up there seemed no way back for the Orient. But a 67th minute goal brought the nightmare of last season's visit to Brisbane Road to the fore when, with 12 minutes to go and 3-0 up, Gillingham conceded three times to full back Matt Lockwood and could so easily have lost the game. This time there was no Lockwood, but Simon Royce was brought into action on a good half-a-dozen times to prevent Orient from plundering a point.
Paul Scally has indicated that he has made his choice and if his candidate accepts the job then there seems no reason for that person not to be installed by Saturday's visit to Swindon.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Gillingham 1 Leeds United 1
Match 19/07/636 - Saturday, 29th September 2007 - League One
Gillingham (0) 1 Cox 90
Leeds United (1) 1 Carole 28
Att. 8,719
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,393
Match Report
In years to come I might look back on this fixture and wonder why they were even playing each other at this time. The mighty Leeds, Champions League semi-finalists just six years ago, in the third tier of English football. Seven straight wins at the start of the season, but still sitting in the bottom half-down with only six points is also going to take some working-out when the memory has dimmed*. These were the strange circumstances that preceded this Priestfield encounter and the game that unfolded also beggared belief.
Gillingham, probably in the last throes of the Onuora/Docherty caretakership, started quite brightly and it was slightly against the run of the play when Leeds went in front. At this point everybody in the 8,000-odd crowd would have suspected that Leeds would go on to win at a canter, nobody would have guessed the indiscipline that followed that would eventually cost them their 100% record.
As a player Dennis Wise was an irritating little sod and as a manager his team performed on the day as a mirror image of himself. First, just before half time, Tresor Kandol was yellow carded for a second time after sarcastically applauding the referee upon getting a free kick for a foul against himself. Then early in the second half Jermaine Beckford, Leeds second striker, was also sent off for two yellows for a foul that came just a couple of minutes after receiving his first card for kicking the ball into the net long after the whistle had gone for offside. Both senseless, needless red cards.
Ultimately Leeds were lucky to end the match with nine men. Hughes had previously been booked for a poor challenge was substituted undoubtedly to protect him from a red and goalkeeper Ankergren was lucky that none of the officials noticed him kicking the ball out of the ground in annoyance at Beckford’s sending off and was then later booked for time wasting.
Just to prove that nothing really changes in football, Wise himself was sent to the stands during half time after a confrontation with the referee. Leeds are probably a cut above most in this division and if they are to make up the points disparity then their indiscipline might just be a telling factor come May.
Gillingham themselves made a much better fist of the day than of late but still could not break down Leeds in a game that became attack against defence once Leeds had gone down to nine. Countless crosses (especially from Clohessey) never beat the first man and we had entered the last couple of minutes before Ankergren was forced to make his first real save. But just when hope had turned to despair, Ian Cox powered in a header to send Priestfield into rapture. Such are the emotions when you hold mighty Leeds to even a draw.
Sadly the end saw scenes that we are not used to at Priestfield. Firstly the sight of Gus Poyet, assistant to Wise, stopping any of his players shaking the hand of the referee and then the Leeds fans pelting the officials with coins as they left the pitch. As I noted earlier, nothing really changes.
*For historical purposes and everybody knows the facts in 2007, Leeds were deducted 15 points at the start of the season for financial irregularities surrounding their administration.
Gillingham (0) 1 Cox 90
Leeds United (1) 1 Carole 28
Att. 8,719
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,393
Match Report
In years to come I might look back on this fixture and wonder why they were even playing each other at this time. The mighty Leeds, Champions League semi-finalists just six years ago, in the third tier of English football. Seven straight wins at the start of the season, but still sitting in the bottom half-down with only six points is also going to take some working-out when the memory has dimmed*. These were the strange circumstances that preceded this Priestfield encounter and the game that unfolded also beggared belief.
Gillingham, probably in the last throes of the Onuora/Docherty caretakership, started quite brightly and it was slightly against the run of the play when Leeds went in front. At this point everybody in the 8,000-odd crowd would have suspected that Leeds would go on to win at a canter, nobody would have guessed the indiscipline that followed that would eventually cost them their 100% record.
As a player Dennis Wise was an irritating little sod and as a manager his team performed on the day as a mirror image of himself. First, just before half time, Tresor Kandol was yellow carded for a second time after sarcastically applauding the referee upon getting a free kick for a foul against himself. Then early in the second half Jermaine Beckford, Leeds second striker, was also sent off for two yellows for a foul that came just a couple of minutes after receiving his first card for kicking the ball into the net long after the whistle had gone for offside. Both senseless, needless red cards.
Ultimately Leeds were lucky to end the match with nine men. Hughes had previously been booked for a poor challenge was substituted undoubtedly to protect him from a red and goalkeeper Ankergren was lucky that none of the officials noticed him kicking the ball out of the ground in annoyance at Beckford’s sending off and was then later booked for time wasting.
Just to prove that nothing really changes in football, Wise himself was sent to the stands during half time after a confrontation with the referee. Leeds are probably a cut above most in this division and if they are to make up the points disparity then their indiscipline might just be a telling factor come May.
Gillingham themselves made a much better fist of the day than of late but still could not break down Leeds in a game that became attack against defence once Leeds had gone down to nine. Countless crosses (especially from Clohessey) never beat the first man and we had entered the last couple of minutes before Ankergren was forced to make his first real save. But just when hope had turned to despair, Ian Cox powered in a header to send Priestfield into rapture. Such are the emotions when you hold mighty Leeds to even a draw.
Sadly the end saw scenes that we are not used to at Priestfield. Firstly the sight of Gus Poyet, assistant to Wise, stopping any of his players shaking the hand of the referee and then the Leeds fans pelting the officials with coins as they left the pitch. As I noted earlier, nothing really changes.
*For historical purposes and everybody knows the facts in 2007, Leeds were deducted 15 points at the start of the season for financial irregularities surrounding their administration.
Saturday, 15 September 2007
Gillingham 1 Brighton 0
Match 15/07/632 - Saturday, 15th September 2007 - League One
Gillingham (0) 1 Facey 82
Brighton & HA (0) 0
Att. 6,118
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,252
Match Report
Gillingham’s turbulent week at least came to a successful conclusion with a hard fought win over former tenants Brighton and Hove Albion. Whether this will terminate the Mick Docherty/Iffy Onuora caretakership with a 100 percent record the coming week will tell and the innuendo coming from the chairman is that they will not be offered the job long-term. Not that him or anybody else from the club is giving much away. A fans forum on Thursday offered nothing more than Mr Scally commenting that the new manager should be “experienced” which is where Iffy/Mick seem to be ruled out. So the message board posters are left with scraps with which to put two and two together and largely come up with a 100. All the old favourites are in the message board frame, from the two Sir Keiths (Peacock and Burkinshaw) through to a man that would be as welcome at Priestfield as foot and mouth, Neil Warnock. At the top of most people’s wish list is Micky Adams and Martin Allen. Both seems likely candidates, but another comment from the forum had Mr Scally calling Allen a bit mad, which does suggest that this might be an unlikely marriage.
Today’s game ultimately presented the rarity of a Gillingham clean sheet and both defences were largely on top throughout. Cox and Sodje managed to keep the ex-Gills pair Savage and Forster quiet, in Forster’s case only in terms of goal opportunities. What a whinger he is. If he wasn’t whining to the officials he was berating his own team mates. Certainly never been forgiven by myself for his walk-out on the club in 1994 and the home crowd’s reaction to him on this and every other occasion my opinion is not alone. Fans are not stupid and they recognise when a player has left a club in the right manner and today’s reception for Guy Butters is a case in point.
A first goal for Delroy Facey eight minutes from time was enough for one of those sweet victories over local rivals. Truth is they probably didn’t deserve the points, but given the circumstances, who cares.
Gillingham (0) 1 Facey 82
Brighton & HA (0) 0
Att. 6,118
Entrance: Season ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/1,252
Match Report
Gillingham’s turbulent week at least came to a successful conclusion with a hard fought win over former tenants Brighton and Hove Albion. Whether this will terminate the Mick Docherty/Iffy Onuora caretakership with a 100 percent record the coming week will tell and the innuendo coming from the chairman is that they will not be offered the job long-term. Not that him or anybody else from the club is giving much away. A fans forum on Thursday offered nothing more than Mr Scally commenting that the new manager should be “experienced” which is where Iffy/Mick seem to be ruled out. So the message board posters are left with scraps with which to put two and two together and largely come up with a 100. All the old favourites are in the message board frame, from the two Sir Keiths (Peacock and Burkinshaw) through to a man that would be as welcome at Priestfield as foot and mouth, Neil Warnock. At the top of most people’s wish list is Micky Adams and Martin Allen. Both seems likely candidates, but another comment from the forum had Mr Scally calling Allen a bit mad, which does suggest that this might be an unlikely marriage.
Today’s game ultimately presented the rarity of a Gillingham clean sheet and both defences were largely on top throughout. Cox and Sodje managed to keep the ex-Gills pair Savage and Forster quiet, in Forster’s case only in terms of goal opportunities. What a whinger he is. If he wasn’t whining to the officials he was berating his own team mates. Certainly never been forgiven by myself for his walk-out on the club in 1994 and the home crowd’s reaction to him on this and every other occasion my opinion is not alone. Fans are not stupid and they recognise when a player has left a club in the right manner and today’s reception for Guy Butters is a case in point.
A first goal for Delroy Facey eight minutes from time was enough for one of those sweet victories over local rivals. Truth is they probably didn’t deserve the points, but given the circumstances, who cares.
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