Gillingham Town 3 v 0 Hallen – 17/09/13
The Gills have lost their run of good form recently, losing and drawing their last two games so it was important they stopped the rot in this game.
Going into the game Manager Adrian Foster had virtually his complete squad available, Nick Compton and Harry Baker being the only absences. However, during the warm up Aaron Rodriguez was taken ill and took no part in the game. Danny Thompson made his first start of the season and there was also a competitive debut for midfielder Aiden Chainey. With Nick Compton absent the Captain’s armband went to Jack Vallis.
The Gills dominated the play from the off and were playing some neat, patient football opting to keep the ball on the ground. They were continually probing the Hallen team, who were struggling to get any quality possession.
As the game went on the better the Gills looked, playing with confidence and creating numerous chances. The defence were looking in complete control and the midfield were dominating the play giving the Hallen players very little time on the ball. On top of this Lee Gale was razor sharp and looking more like his old self and with Ben Thomson running at the Hallen defence putting the fear of God into them, it seemed only a matter of time before the Gills scored.
However, when the goal came it was not from one of the slick passing moves but from a set piece. With 20 minutes on the clock Jon Vance took a free kick from well outside the area and curled it towards goal, where it was met by the head of Jack Vallis, whose flicked header went into the net giving Hallen keeper Sam Burgess no chance.
Following this the Gills played with an even greater confidence and several good chances were created but they couldn’t convert any of them, so the score remained 1-0 at half time. This was a worry because in recent games the Gills have dominated the first half but missed chances and then a poor second half performance has allowed teams to get back into the game.
However, the second half continued where the first left off with the Gills, if anything, looking even more confident and playing even better football. Their efforts were rewarded with another goal just 5 minutes into the half. Ben Thomson played the ball to Jon Vance running to the edge of the area and Jon struck a superb volley that flew past Burgess into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
The Gills continued to play well and with 15 minutes left the incessant pressure told and the Gills scored a third goal when Danny Thompson was brought down inside the area. Lee Gale took the penalty and blasted the ball into the net giving Burgess no chance and making it 3-0.
Before the restart they made a triple substitution when Joe Smeeton, Ryan Murray and Danny Thompson were replaced by Dan Cox, Aidan Chainey and James Hatcher.
Despite several good chances being created there was no further score and the Gills ran out complete winners against a good Hallen team. Bearing in mind the quality of the opposition this has to be one of the Gills’ finest performances this season.
The Gills face an even tougher challenge on Saturday when they travel to Larkhall who have a 100% record in the league so far this season.
Man of the Match was Jon Vance.
Gills line-up: Beale, Thomson N, Smeeton (Hatcher 76), Vallis, Vance, Bowles, Murray (Cox 76), Clarke, Gale, Thomson B, Thompson (Chainey 76). Unused subs: Foster, Rodriguez
Terry Lucas
