Willand Rovers 0 v 1 Gillingham Town – 02/10/13
It is never easy going to Willand for a game as they are a tough team to beat, especially at their home. This was made even harder by the fact that the Gills had a number of players absent, namely Harry Baker (injury), Jon Vance (injury), Nick Compton (work), Dan Cox (work), Dan Sansom (County game) and Joe Smeeton (work). On the plus side, new signing Phil Ormrod was available to start up front alongside Ben Thomson.
The game kicked off in pouring rain with the ball skimming off the surface and players struggling to stay on their feet. Willand started the better of the two teams and their first chance came after only 7 minutes when Jamie Beale, in goal for the Gills, had to make a good save low down by his left post. 10 minutes later another Willand effort was headed for goal but again Jamie was equal to the task, this time patting the ball to the floor before gathering it.
Willand left winger Luke Alven was looking particularly effective in this opening spell and he brought another good save out of Jamie Beale just past the 20 minute mark. Then Willand had another good chance to score after 24 minutes when Dean Stamp outmuscled Jack Vallis to a long ball but Jack still managed to deflect the effort just wide of the post.
After this the game was a lot more even with the two sides cancelling eachother out until just before half time when the Gills had their first good chance. Nick Thomson let go a fierce shot from well outside the area that the Willand keeper, Sam Alexander, just managed to get his fingertips to. Despite this the ball still struck the inside of the post and, unluckily for Nick, rebounded back across the face of goal.
Shortly after this Ben Thomson headed a corner towards goal but his effort went straight at Alexander who gathered easily. This proved to be the last piece of action in a half that Willand probably edged overall but with the Gills getting more and more into the game as time went on.
The Gills started the second half much better than their first half performance and immediately had a good chance to take the lead when Ryan Murray put a left footed curling ball in from the right wing that sailed through a crowded area and only just wide of the left post.
The Gills were looking the better team now and they had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down just before the hour mark when Ben Thomson seemed to be brought down inside the area but the Referee wasn’t interested. Willand were still very much in the game though and moments later Jamie Beale had to make another very good save from a fierce shot.
The Gills continued to enjoy the better of the play though and with just 3 minutes left they scored the winner. Alexander threw the ball out towards the Willand left back, but this move was read by Ashley Clarke who just beat the defender to the ball, pushed it past him and and then drove further down the right wing. Ashley put a great cross towards the back of the 6 yard box and debutant Phil Ormrod was on hand to head the ball into the back of the net.
Willand pushed hard for the last remaining few minutes but the Gills defence held firm, as it had for most of the night, and they came away with a very valuable three points. Overall a draw would probably have been a fair result but the Gills players stuck to the task and got lucky in the dying moments.
Man of the Match was Gary Bowles.
Saturday sees the Gills travel to Winterbourne Utd and their new 3G pitch.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, Hatcher, Vallis, Chainey, Bowles, N Thomson, Clarke, Ormrod, B Thomson, Rodriguez (Thompson 72). Unused subs: Foster, J Baker.
Terry Lucas
