Corsham Town v Gillingham Town – 17/08/13
This FA Cup Extra Qualifying Round game was the first time these two teams had met, as Corsham were relegated to the First Division in the same season that the Gills were promoted to the Premier Division.
The Gills were able to put out their expected team with the only noticeable absence being that of Joe Smeeton, who was unavailable.
Right from the start the Gills didn’t look themselves, struggling to string passes together and making unforced errors. Corsham, on the other hand, were really looking up for the game and were working really hard, especially in midfield not giving the Gills players any time on the ball. However, neither team was playing any quality football.
Despite this the first chance fell to the Gills when a corner was met by the head of Jack Vallis, but he couldn’t get any power in his header, which was cleared off the line.
Corsham were playing with a lone striker, Jamal Chevelou, and it was clear that their tactic was to use his incredible pace to meet long balls over the defence. This tactic nearly worked in the 9thminute when he collected a long ball and then beat Jack Vallis on the edge of the area, but he put his shot about a yard wide of the post.
Ironically it was this tactic that led to the Gills opening the scoring after 11 minutes. A long ball was collected by Ben Thomson who had raced clear of the defence and he rounded the keeper who had come way out of his area before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The rest of the first half was a dour affair with neither side playing any quality football. The Gills were still struggling to string passes together and the forwards were continually being caught offside.
The second half continued where the first had left off and the first chance didn’t come till the 55thminute when Jack Vallis met a corner but again he couldn’t get over the ball and his header sailed over the bar. In the next minute Ben Thomson was through on goal but his well struck shot was blocked by Corsham keeper Anthony Brown.
After this Corsham had a good chance when Jamie Moss took a shot from just inside the area in front of goal but he wasted the chance by blasting his shot over the bar. This good chance seemed to lift Corsham and they started to get into the game more now.
In the 64thminute Jack Vallis tripped Corsham player Dan Lardner inside the area and the Referee duly awarded a penalty. Dan King took the penalty and put it towards the bottom left corner and, despite Jamie Beale guessing right and getting a hand to the ball, it flew into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Corsham were really encouraged by their goal and as a result they took the lead in the 72ndminute when a ball into the area was met by the head of Nick Holton whose header looped over Jamie Beale and dropped into the goal to make it 2-1.
The Gills had to go for the win and just before the 80 minute mark Jack Vallis was pushed forward as an additional striker. This change, together with Corsham sitting back to protect their lead, meant there was more pressure on the Corsham goal. This led to the Gills creating several attempts at goal but none of these could be converted. This change obviously left the Gills exposed at the back and Corsham capitalised on this in the 89thminute when Jack Morris placed a shot from the edge of the area just out of the reach of Jamie Beale but just inside the post to make it 3-1.
There was still time for the Gills to get a second goal when in the 92ndminute the Corsham defence failed to clear a goalmouth scramble and Harry Baker bundled the ball over the line. However, this was only a consolation goal as the Referee blew the final whistle moments later.
This was a very poor game by the Gills’ standards and the better team won on the day. All that can be said is that the players now need to put it behind them and refocus for the league games coming up.
Man of the Match was Gary Bowles.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, Thomson N, Vallis, Compton, Bowles, Baker, Clarke, Gale, Thomson B, Rodriguez (Thompson 60). Unused subs: Sansom, Baker J, Foster
Terry Lucas
