Two early goals by Bitton effectively sealed this victory with an ‘out of sorts’ Gills team always struggling to get back into the game.
It was great to actually get a game for the second Saturday in a row but, no fault of Bitton, the pitch had a poor surface meaning it was difficult to play any quality football.
Neither team dominated the opening stages but Bitton took the lead in the 9thminute with a goal coming from an inch perfect ball by Aysa Corrick, who caused the Gills problems for the whole game. He played the ball from the midfield to striker Dave Pollinger who then coolly slotted the ball between the legs of Jamie Beale to give them a 1-0 lead.
The game settled down again but the hosts doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Luke Bryan was fouled inside the area by Jon Lynn. Bryan took the penalty kick himself and placed it out of the reach of Jamie Beale to make it 2-0.
The Gills rallied well immediately after this forcing two good saves from Bitton keeper John Rendell but they weren’t playing with the confidence and fluidity that we have been used to this season. Neither team could find a way to dominate the game and the first half ended 2-0 to the hosts.
The Gills came into the game more in the second half but despite having more possession and creating more pressure they couldn’t find a way through the solid Bitton defence.
With 10 minutes remaining Bitton nearly scored when a screaming shot from outside the area by Dan Spill had Jamie Beale beaten. The ball then hit the underside of the bar and bounced down onto the line before being cleared.
Just as the game went into injury time Bitton added a third goal when Aysa Corrick outpaced the defence and slid the ball into the back of the net for Bitton to run out comfortable winners.
Man of the Match was Nick Compton.
The next game for the Gills is next Tuesday evening when they host Poole Town in the semi-finals of the Dorset Senior Cup.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, N Thomson, Compton, Lynn (Hewlett 75), H Baker (Agbo 60), Cox, Clarke, Smith (Thompson 71), Kirby, Rodriguez.
Terry Lucas
