- Oct 31, 2010
- 24,334
- 1
- 10,610
A welcome narrow 1-0 win.
The first half was all about playing our football through the thirds, pass and move and move Gillingham about.
The second half was completely different and a right battle. Cooper struggled with the high balls coming into the box, indeed the Gills missed two open goals after Cooper missed two crosses but credit to him for keeping a clean sheet.
Once again each half was chalk and cheese, however this time we didn't concede in the second half.
It was a good first half for us. Gillingham started the better team but once we withstood that early pressure we started to weave our patterns of play.
We were helped by Gillingham not pressing our centre-backs as Oxford and other teams have done which allowed our defence to pick out a pass into our midfielders.
Cooper had a few shaky moments early in the half.
It was noticeable that there was a new tactic where Camara was stood back on the half way line when we had won a corner which was presumably insurance against a counter-attack.
The goal came from a great run by Edwards from right to left with Grant providing a superb cross that was finished off by Tommy Jephcott on his weaker left foot. Another £50,000 added to his value.
Macleod picked up an injury as he often does and was replaced by Fornah.
Another first half win to add to the collection, can we find a rare second half win or even a draw?
Gillingham were the better team for the second period, they targeted the space behind our wing-backs which enabled them to pump crosses into our box. Cooper missed a couple and Gillingham really should have scored.
Gillingham did bring on Akinde early in the second half and his presence unsettled us.
Lowe responded by replacing Grant with Opoku although Gillingham still had more of the play.
We had a few opportunities but these were not clear cut, the football of the first half was replaced with a battle to stay in the game.
The back three held firm against the high balls coming into the box.
It's a fantastic win in the context that we stood up to a physical side and after the confidence sapping defeat against Oxford.
There will still be questions about why we cannot match our second half performances with that of the first half.
Jephcott's goal was once again the difference, what a year he has had.
Hardie did a lot of running for the team up front.
Camara had a quiet game by his standards.
Mayor's performance once again mirrored the team performance, a good first half and an average second half. He gave away a silly free kick late on the game that could have cost us.
Cooper will benefit from this experience, he probably hasn't come up against such an aerial bombardment like this before. His worst game of the season and yet he kept a clean sheet!
Edwards was all action and continued his recent good form.
Fornah was bizarrely on set-piece duty again and as against Oxford he wasted opportunities to deliver a good ball.
The football in the first half was some of the best we've played this season, helped by Gillingham allowing our centre-backs time on the ball.
We are a much better team when the opposition don't press us.
One day we will hammer someone 3 or 4 by half-time and relax for the second half.
Once again Semper Fidelis wasn't played as the players came out for the second half. Sacrilege and breaking a matchday tradition!
Man of the match - Edwards.
Cooper 4, Aimson 6, Canavan 7, Watts 7, Macleod 6, Edwards 8, Camara 6, Mayor 6, Grant 6, Jephcott 7, Hardie 6. Subs Fornah 5, Opoku 6, Telford n/a, Nouble n/a.
The first half was all about playing our football through the thirds, pass and move and move Gillingham about.
The second half was completely different and a right battle. Cooper struggled with the high balls coming into the box, indeed the Gills missed two open goals after Cooper missed two crosses but credit to him for keeping a clean sheet.
Once again each half was chalk and cheese, however this time we didn't concede in the second half.
It was a good first half for us. Gillingham started the better team but once we withstood that early pressure we started to weave our patterns of play.
We were helped by Gillingham not pressing our centre-backs as Oxford and other teams have done which allowed our defence to pick out a pass into our midfielders.
Cooper had a few shaky moments early in the half.
It was noticeable that there was a new tactic where Camara was stood back on the half way line when we had won a corner which was presumably insurance against a counter-attack.
The goal came from a great run by Edwards from right to left with Grant providing a superb cross that was finished off by Tommy Jephcott on his weaker left foot. Another £50,000 added to his value.
Macleod picked up an injury as he often does and was replaced by Fornah.
Another first half win to add to the collection, can we find a rare second half win or even a draw?
Gillingham were the better team for the second period, they targeted the space behind our wing-backs which enabled them to pump crosses into our box. Cooper missed a couple and Gillingham really should have scored.
Gillingham did bring on Akinde early in the second half and his presence unsettled us.
Lowe responded by replacing Grant with Opoku although Gillingham still had more of the play.
We had a few opportunities but these were not clear cut, the football of the first half was replaced with a battle to stay in the game.
The back three held firm against the high balls coming into the box.
It's a fantastic win in the context that we stood up to a physical side and after the confidence sapping defeat against Oxford.
There will still be questions about why we cannot match our second half performances with that of the first half.
Jephcott's goal was once again the difference, what a year he has had.
Hardie did a lot of running for the team up front.
Camara had a quiet game by his standards.
Mayor's performance once again mirrored the team performance, a good first half and an average second half. He gave away a silly free kick late on the game that could have cost us.
Cooper will benefit from this experience, he probably hasn't come up against such an aerial bombardment like this before. His worst game of the season and yet he kept a clean sheet!
Edwards was all action and continued his recent good form.
Fornah was bizarrely on set-piece duty again and as against Oxford he wasted opportunities to deliver a good ball.
The football in the first half was some of the best we've played this season, helped by Gillingham allowing our centre-backs time on the ball.
We are a much better team when the opposition don't press us.
One day we will hammer someone 3 or 4 by half-time and relax for the second half.
Once again Semper Fidelis wasn't played as the players came out for the second half. Sacrilege and breaking a matchday tradition!
Man of the match - Edwards.
Cooper 4, Aimson 6, Canavan 7, Watts 7, Macleod 6, Edwards 8, Camara 6, Mayor 6, Grant 6, Jephcott 7, Hardie 6. Subs Fornah 5, Opoku 6, Telford n/a, Nouble n/a.
