Odd Down 0 v 0 Gillingham Town – 02/11/13
Manager Adrian Foster was once again forced to make changes to his team, the absent players being Steve Smith (unavailable), Joe Smeeton, Harry Baker and James Hatcher (all injured). On the positive side Jon Vance and Malick Jammeh were available after missing the midweek Dorset Senior Cup victory against Blandford Utd and Ben Thomson returned after his four match suspension.
When the game started it was obvious why these two teams occupy places near the top of the League, with some really decent football being played. The teams tended to cancel each other out though and this meant that clear chances were few and far between. The first chance fell to Gillingham after 10 minutes when an Aaron Rodriguez ball put Ben Thomson through on goal but his shot was well blocked by the legs of Kane Mannings in goal for the hosts. 5 minutes later Gills’ keeper Jamie Beale had to make a smart save from a well struck volley to keep the scores level.
After this the game became a stalemate with both defences and midfields dominating the game. The Gills were getting far more possession with their usual passing game and patient build up with almost every move going through Jon Vance in the midfield. Odd Down stood firm though and as a result the Gills couldn’t turn this possession into clear cut chances, whilst the hosts, who were tending to play on the break, were also struggling to get through a very solid looking Gills’ defence.
So at half time we had seen some quality football played, but mostly by the two defences and only a couple of chances.
The second half was a different affair and the first chance came straight from the kick off when Aaron Rodriguez drove a low ball across the face of goal. This struck a defender and, with Mannings beaten, the ball deflected just wide of the post. Then just 3 minutes later Ashley Clarke took a shot from well outside the area and, although this had Mannings beaten again, it sailed just over the bar.
Odd Down’s first chance came shortly after this when a shot by Rich Dawley had to be palmed away from goal by Jamie Beale. Then, with 10 minutes of the half played the Gills nearly took the lead through Ben Thomson. His shot was blocked by the hands of Mannings, but he could only take the pace off the ball which then spun up behind him and bounced just wide of the post.
On the 68 minute mark a Jon Vance corner was headed down by Gary Bowles and this flashed back across the face of goal and Phil Ormrod, coming in at the opposite post couldn’t quite make contact with the ball which once again went just wide of the goal.
Going into the final stages of the game both teams began to tire and this led to a nervous time for both sets of fans as chances were created. With 11 minutes left the hosts were awarded a free kick about 10 yards outside the area and this sailed just over the bar. Then with just 3 minutes left the Gills had their best chance of the game when some goalmouth action first saw a close range Ashley Clarke shot blocked and then a shot from Ben Thomson from inside the six yard box was blocked on the line by Odd Down defender Steve Jones.
This was the last action in a game that, despite there being no goals, was still a good advert for Western League football. The 0-0 scoreline also means that the Gills have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last eight games.
Next up are Buckland Athletic who visit Hardings Lane on Tuesday evening.
Man of the Match was Jon Vance.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, N Thomson, Vallis, Vance, Bowles, Jammeh Clarke, Ormrod, B Thomson, Rodriguez. Unused subs: Cox, Chainey, Sansom, Foster.
Terry Lucas
