Gillingham managed the perfect start. In the 3rd
minute, Nyron Nosworthy slung over a dangerous cross from the right and Iffy Onuora’s
downward header was deflected wide of Crichton’s right hand post. Hessenthaler took
the resulting corner, which was flicked on at the near post by (their) Paul Smith,
allowing the unmarked Guy Butters to barge past Crichton and deflect the ball in.
Encouraged by their early success, the Gills proceeded to play with confidence, power and
skill. Nosworthy was a real menace on their right flank and Smith and Hessenthaler managed
to thread a series of dangerous balls through to Asaba and Onuora. Our central defenders
were at full stretch. Even the supercool Ian Cox was forced into desperate measures. His
professional foul on 13 minutes was perhaps crucial, for without it Gillingham might have
increased their lead.
While the Gills were monopolising the power play, we were left with
our bits and pieces. Little tried hard to get us going but we were too ponderous and
indecisive. Moves broke down almost as soon as they started. Neither Cook nor Mellon was
able to make much impact in the middle and Branch was well shackled on the left. Only
Little’s cameos and Johnrose’s industry pepped up our popgun midfield. As a
result Cooke and Payton were marooned for long patches. However, on the half-hour the game
turned. Firstly, Johnrose made a vital saving tackle to deny Smith’s forward run and
then we equalised almost immediately afterwards. It was a lucky goal, too. A long
clearance ran away from Cooke but ricocheted off Pennock allowing Cooke the opportunity to
put Payton clear. Payton shrugged off Butters’ attempt to hold him back and with only
Bartram to beat, he tucked the ball away neatly, low to the keeper’s right. This
knocked Gillingham out of their stride and at last we began to compose things. With the
interval impending Little was desperately unfortunate not to score. Alas, his swerving
25-yard strike hit the inside of Bartram’s right hand post and bounced clear.
Nevertheless, ‘Even Stevens’ was a good half time return.
We began the second half in some comfort. Our defence looked solid
and we created a good early chance when Cooke broke well on the right. His low, pacey
cross found Payton at the far post but a defender’s desperate lunge prevented Andy
from finishing cleanly and Butters was able to hack the ball off the line. However, we
then began to concede space and possession. Mellon and Cook rediscovered their earlier
anonymity, failing to help our wingbacks find sufficient space. As a result, Little and
Branch were compelled to take up duties as fullbacks. Meanwhile Nicky Southall was causing
us increasing problems on the right. One dangerous cross after another fizzed across our
penalty area. Only Crichton’s agility and our central defender’s determination
were keeping us in this contest. Crichton twice saved brilliantly from Southall, once high
to his left and then low to his right. His reflex save also fortuitously blocked a far
post header. But he had no hope of stopping Asaba’s 68th minute effort.
Asaba picked up the ball on the right around thirty yards from goal. His brilliant
crossfield run took him past two markers and into our box, whereupon he calmly poked the
ball wide of Crichton and into the right hand corner. It was a stunning goal. Gillingham
should then have driven home their advantage as Burnley were forced to chase the game.
Crichton managed to get his fingertips to Asaba’s close range effort, allowing Davis
to clear off the goal line and Davis then managed to deflect a fierce cross away from
Onuora. It was one-way traffic.
Wright’s introduction on 70 minutes made little impact
initially. Burnley were now playing 3-4-3 but our midfielders were providing no ammunition
for the big guns. Stan seemed to recognise this, too, as Jepson was brought on for Cooke
after 78 minutes, allowing us to revert to 3-5-2. Then shortly afterwards, Mullin replaced
Mellon (long overdue in my view), but still we were getting no change out of this strong
Gillingham side. however, on 86 minutes with little hope left, Thomas sent over a looping
right wing centre. Before there was time for our lips to part, let alone move, Wright had,
in one blinding flash, stunned the ball and lashed it into the roof of the net. It was a
venomous, searing strike. It was a goal of the very highest class. As the net was still
straining with the velocity of his shot, Bartram’s arms had only reached the
half-raised position, a gesture more of surrender than defence.
It would be too harsh to call this hugely important result
‘Floodlight Robbery’ but it was a bit of steal. The cause of our problem is
quite obviously in midfield. It doesn’t perform with sufficient consistency and
incisiveness. Despite Johnrose's combative efforts, we are too often over run, especially
by the better sides. And although our midfielders created pretty patterns at Coventry
there were few telling balls in areas where it really mattered. The Gillingham programme
included some interesting statistics. Apparently, the Gills’ midfielders, Paul Smith
and Andy Hessenthaler, win around 58% of their tackles compared with Paul Cook’s 43%,
Lenny Johnrose’s 49% and Glen Little’s 50%. Micky Mellon and John Mullin
didn’t feature in the tackling league. Moreover, Smith and Hessenthaler, along with
fellow midfielder Junior Lewis scored highly on passing and shooting accuracy. The point
is, I suppose, that our midfielders are not sufficiently rounded or robust. But what do I
know?
Team: Crichton, Cox, Davis,
Thomas, Little, Branch, Mellon (Mullin 80) Johnrose, Cook (Wright 70), Cooke (Jepson 76),
Payton. Subs not used: West and Armstrong.
