Gillingham Town 2 v 2 Radstock Town – 14/09/13
On paper this should have been an easy victory for the Gills but there are no easy games in this League.
The game started with the teams reflecting their position in the League with the Gills looking comfortable on the ball and Radstock struggling to cope with the pace and strength of Ben Thomson.
It was Ben who had the first chance for the Gills when he shoulder charged a Radstock defender off the ball to leave himself through on goal. His shot was struck well but flashed across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.
Radstock were still looking dangerous on the break though and a few minutes later they also saw an effort fly across the face of goal.
It was another strong run by Ben Thomson that led to the Gills’ opener on the quarter hour mark when he was brought down by a defender and the Ref pointed to the spot. With Lee Gale sat on the bench the penalty was taken by Ryan Murray who gave Lewis Pierre in goal for the Miners no chance by slamming the ball over him into the net to give the Gills a 1-0 lead.
The Gills continued to look the better team but couldn’t turn this dominance into clear cut chances with each move breaking down in the final third of the pitch. As a result it was Radstock who had the next good chance just before the half hour mark when Mark Chiddy’s shot from the edge of the 6 yard box drew a great reactive one handed save out of Jamie Beale in goal for the Gills.
With 36 minutes played the Gills had a good chance to double their lead and it was Ben Thomson again who created the chance with a run down the left wing and cross into the 6 yard box. The cross was met at the back post by Ashley Clarke but at an awkward height and he ended up chesting the ball towards goal but straight into the arms of Pierre.
In the very next minute a close range effort by Jon Vance brought a good save from Pierre and the loose ball fell to a Radstock defender who cleared the danger.
So the first half ended with the Gills 1-0 up and in control but unable to convert pressure and possession into clear cut chances on goal.
The second half got off to an explosive start when Jon Vance intercepted a pass between to Radstock defenders and then put Ben Thomson through on goal. Ben’s shot was well struck and on target but Pierre tipped the ball over the bar.
In the 49thminute the Miners equalised when a ball was chipped over the Gills’ defence and the Miners’ quick footed and pacey Mario Matteus got to the ball first inside the 6 yard box. His stabbed shot bounced past Jamie Beale and rolled across the goal line to make it 1-1. The goal obviously encouraged Radstock who got into the game more and more now to make it a much more even affair. In fact just 2 minutes later it took a header off the line by Joe Smeeton to keep the scores level.
Radstock continued to look the more likely to score and just past the hour mark Jamie Beale had to make another great save from a close range header to keep the Gills in with a chance of getting something from the game. Matteus in particular was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Gills’ defence and created several chances that were spurned.
With 5 minutes left disaster struck when Radstock scored a second as a free kick out by the corner flag was put into the area and headed into the net by an unmarked Leigh Edward-Samuels. At this point Radstock must have thought the three points were theirs, but the Gills had other ideas, going all out for the equaliser.
The Gills bombarded the Radstock goal now and several chances came and went before the equaliser came in the 88thminute. A corner was put into the area and Gary Bowles headed it goalwards, but this effort was cleared off the line. However, the ball simply went back to Gary who headed it goalwards again and this time Lee Gale was stood on the line to flick the ball into the net to make it 2-2.
The Gills went all out for the win now and Ben Thomson had a good chance when he ran along the edge of the area before letting go a shot but it flew well over the bar. Then deep into injury time a free kick by the corner flag was put into the area by Aaron Rodriguez and Nick Compton headed the ball towards goal but it was straight at Pierre who saved easily.
So this game of two halves ended with a 2-2 draw which was probably a fair result. Radstock probably feel they dropped two points after being in front with only 5 minutes left, but the Gills could say the same after the numerous chances they made following this.
Next up are Hallen on Tuesday evening (7:45 ko) at Hardings Lane
Man of the Match was Jamie Beale.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, Smeeton, Vallis, Compton, Bowles, Cox, Clarke (Rodriguez 61), Thomson B, Thomson N (Gale 70), Vance. Unused subs: Foster, Hatcher, Thompson.
Terry Lucas
