Gillingham Town 1 v 1 Bristol Manor Farm – 07/12/13
This game had all the hallmarks of being a great game as the Gills were in second place in the league having gone unbeaten in 11 games, whilst Bristol Manor Farm sat in third place having been unbeaten in 9 games. This meant that this was a game neither team could afford to lose.
Both teams didn’t disappoint and right from the off there was some quality football being played, showing why they are where they are in the league. Manor Farm started the better of the two teams through and had a good opening 20 minutes and were unlucky not to open the scoring.
However, it was Gillingham who broke the deadlock after 37 minutes with a bit of solo brilliance. Aidan Chainey collected the ball just outside the area and lost his marker before putting his low shot out of the reach of Bristol Manor Farm’s keeper Ashley Clark but just inside the post to score his first goal for the club and give them a 1-0 lead.
That was how it stayed till half time and the second half started pretty much the same with neither team prepared to give any quarter. The game exploded into life on 66 minutes when Bristol Manor Farm were awarded a penalty after Liam Farmer was brought down inside the box which Kye Holly duly despatched to make it one apiece. However he then provocatively celebrated the goal in front of Gills’ keeper Jamie Beale and then spat in his face, unfortunately none of this being seen by any of the officials. Tempers flared and there was a melee in front of the dugouts including both benches after which a member of the Manor Farm coaching staff was sent off.
Shortly after this Phil Ormrod had a good chance to win it for the Gills when he was through on goal but Clark kept his team in it when he blocked Phil’s shot with his legs.
With just 7 minutes left to play Manor Farm player Jack Durrant received a second caution and was sent off. The Gills tried to make the most of the reduction in numbers and there were a couple of occasions when they came close to scoring. With Manor Farm hanging on by their fingertips it looked like the Gills had won it in the dying moments when Harry Baker took a shot at goal from inside the 6 yard box but his effort was brilliantly saved by Clark.
So the game ended 1-1 which was probably a fair result on the day and both teams keep their unbeaten records intact. This was a good advert for local football with the two teams playing some quality football whilst not giving any quarter, the only blemish being the unfortunate spitting incident.
Man of the Match was Danny Thompson.
The next game for the Gills is away to Slimbridge next Saturday.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, N Thomson, Vallis, Clarke, Compton, Chainey (Cox 63), Agbo (Baker 68), B Thomson, Smith (Ormrod 58), Thompson. Unused sub: Foster
Terry Lucas
