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 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.

Tonbridge 3 Leyton 0

Match 54/07/671 - Saturday, 8th March 2008 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 3 Rook 71, 90 (pens), 90
Leyton (0) 0
Att. 410

Entrance: £8
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/4,323

Whilst I've been away on holiday and Gillingham have floundered in and out of the relegation area, Tonbridge have gone from strength to strength and this win was their fourth on the bounce and has propelled them into mid-table.

I would imagine this was probably their least impressive performance of the four as they made hard work of the Division's whipping boys. For 70 minutes on a wet, windy afternoon, they dominated without breaking through and it took a rather dubious penalty to break the deadlock. The referee had taken centre stage for much of the game making both poor and confusing decisions and talking forever to players after they had misdemeaned. Eventually the injustice of the penalty decision broke Leyton's resolve and their discipline was lost. They lost a man and then a second penalty decision wrapped up the game before Rook added a third for his first Angels' hat trick.

The league is still tight but Tonbridge are now safely in mid-table and should now be able to press on to a decent finishing position that will give them confidence going into Tommy Warrilow's first full season with the club.

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.

Tonbridge 3 Margate 2

Match 52/07/669 - Saturday, 9th February 2008 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (2) 3 Rook 7, 74 (2 pens) Logan 23
Margate (1) 2 Martin 11 Saunders 90
Att. 565

Entrance: £8
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/4,252

Match Report

The difference between the teams as far as the result was two penalties from Carl Rook, but truth was that Tonbridge were deserving of this important victory. An early penalty, quite rightfully awarded and blasted home by Rook was quickly levelled as a slick passing movement allowed ex-Angel Ryan Martin to slot home. Margate looked likely to take a stranglehold on the game for a period following but when the ball broke to Fraser Logan on the edge of the box a thunderbolt of a rising shot regained the Angels lead.

Tonbridge had the lion's share of the game in the second half and Margate fans around me were none too pleased with both the inaction on the field and manager Robin Trott's off it. Another penalty 12 minutes from time sealed the game, this one not so clear cut, but from a distance it was impossible to say whether it was handball or otherwise. A late mistake from keeper Matt Reed narrowed the lead, but it was too little, too late for Margate.

The result lifts Tonbridge away from the danger zone, but the Division is very tight and they need a few results on the spin to steer them to safety.

England 2 Switzerland 1

Match 51/07/668 - Wednesday, 6th February 2008 - International

England (1) 2 Jenas 40 Wright-Phillips 62
Switzerland (0) 1 Derdiyok 58
Att. 86,857

Entrance: £30
Programme: £6
Mileage: 100/4,226

Match Report

It was hardly Fabiolous, but the Capello era got off to a winning starting in a stuttering display against a very average Swiss side.

A poor beginning proved to much for a unforgiving Wembley crowd who, after 25 minutes of misplaced passes and very little forward drive, began to turn on this new look England side. Though it had been thoroughly frustrating it was pretty unfair that they should be getting on the backs of a team showing nine changes from that fateful night against Croatia. Choruses of One David Beckham could be heard and by the end of the match it is a credit to David Bentley that he rose above this to produce one of the better performances on the night.

A goal just before half-time, well-crafted by Joe Cole and touched home by Jermaine Jenas stifled what might have been the loudest derision of the night on the 45 minute whistle. Whether Capello speaks Italian or English during his half time talk he got a positive response in the second half. Despite conceding an equaliser to a very good strike from the Swiss substitute Derdiyok on 58 minutes, England bounced back to win the game with a tap in from Wright-Phillips after good work from Gerrard and Rooney.

Most people would have gone happy with a few reservations. Mr Capello, I’m sure, would have noticed that suddenly we are devoid of full backs. Micah Richards' omission was a surprise and his deputy Wes Brown had an awful first half-hour, did improve, but is really not an international footballer. On the other flank, Ashley Cole looked out of salts and his replacement, Wayne Bridge, did nothing to erase the memory of his dreadful performance against Croatia.

Midfield was satisfactory, though Gareth Barry had probably his least effective game in an England shirt. Gerrard, given man of the match (not by me, I hasten to add), looked better on a TV second viewing, Jenas gave an England performance that I did not think him capable of and Joe Cole was just about everybody’s man of the match. I wish Cole would stay on his feet more, if only to stop Ann moaning about it every match.

Up front, Mr Capello please learn something that we have all known for some while, Wayne Rooney cannot play the lone striker, it just doesn’t work, we have been here before and take our word for it. You have had the experiment, but put that one in the bin never to resurface. Once Crouch was on the field, the real Rooney came alive and as always was worth the entrance money alone.

So it wasn’t a great night but Capello now has a platform from which to develop a side that I fear might not excite, but if they are winners perhaps we might get a atmosphere at Wembley deserving of the structure. For all its grandeur the only fans to have delivered have been the Croatians, who revelled in their victory.

Before the game a "moment" of silence was observed for the victims of the Munich air disaster. The moment lasted all of 27 seconds as a few catcalls was enough for the referee to call a halt, obviously on the instructions of the FA to save any embarrassment.

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.