Bristol Manor Farm 1 v 2 Gillingham Town 22/03/14
It was second against third in the Western League Premier Division in this match, with the Gills taking on the team immediately above them in the league. This was a ‘must win’ game for the Gills as, at the start of the game, they were 15 points behind Manor Farm with 5 games in hand.
The game nearly got off to an explosive start when, in the 2ndminute, a volley from well outside the area by recent signing Benjani Ben Salem cannoned back off the crossbar with Manor Farm’s keeper Ashley Clark a spectator.
After this Manor Farm began to dominate the game and looked very dangerous going forward but the next good chance fell to the Gills when Benjani Ben Salem couldn’t quite get onto the end of a header into the area by Nick Thomson.
Manor Farm continued to have the lion’s share of possession but their moves always seemed to break down with the final ball. However, their dominance and good play was rewarded on the 13 minute mark when they got a lucky break. A free kick was lofted into the area and the ball glanced off the head of a Gills’ defender onto the bar and then fell straight to Manor Farm player Pete Sheppard inside the six yard box who didn’t waste the easy chance.
Following this setback the Gills defence had to dig deep to protect their goal from numerous attacks and the midfield were spending more time defending than attacking. Just before the half hour mark Manor Farm wasted a glorious chance to double their lead when a scuffed clearance by a Gills’ defender fell to Will Hailston, but he blasted over the bar from the edge of the six yard box.
With 33 minutes played the Gills equalised against the run of play when Steve Smith capitalised on a defensive error. A long ball out of defence by Ryan Murray was misjudged by a defender and Steve Smith gambled on the error, leaving him through on goal with just Clark to beat. He then neatly slipped the ball past the advancing keeper to score the Gills’ equaliser.
The goal seemed to lift the Gills and they started to get into the game more now, but there were no further chances for either team before half time.
Manager Kev Davis’ half time team talk must have hit a note with the Gills’ players as they started the second half looking a much more competent and confident team. They nearly took the lead in the very first minute of the half when Clark dropped a ball into the crowded area but it struck a Gills player’s leg and rolled agonizingly just wide of the post. A few minutes later Aaron Rodriguez took a shot from outside the area and he struck it well but the effort was straight at Clark who had an easy save.
Manor Farm rallied and the Gills had keeper Jamie Beale to thank when he saved a close range shot by falling onto the ball.
Then, on the hour mark, Steve Smith went to collect a long ball into the area and, despite facing away from goal and there being no danger, the Manor Farm defender shoved him in the back and the Referee pointed to the spot. Steve dusted himself off to take the penalty, which he confidently slotted home sending Clark the wrong way to give the Gills a 1-2 lead.
Following the goal the Gills’ defence held firm as Manor Farm pressed forward their attack but this left them exposed at the back and it was the Gills who came closest to scoring, but Benjani Ben Salem blasted two good chances over the bar.
So the game ended with a 1-2 victory for the Gills which keeps alive their hopes of finishing in second place in the league.
Man of the Match was Nick Thomson.
The Gills face an even tougher test in their next game when they host unbeaten Larkhall next Saturday (29th).
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, N Thomson, Compton, Lynn, Hewlett, Thompson, (Agbo 61), Clarke, Smith, Ben Salem, Rodriguez (Harris 78). Unused sub: Smeeton.
