Welton Rovers 0 v 2 Gillingham Town – 26/10/13
Two players who were missing from last week’s game returned; these being Steve Smith and Ashley Clarke. The three still absent were, Joe Smeeton and Harry Baker (both injury) and Ben Thomson (suspension). At least this meant that the Gills could play with two strikers so they started in a 4-4-2 formation with Phil Ormrod and Steve Smith up front. There was also a debut for new signing Malik Jammeh in the midfield.
This Les Phillips Cup match was a potential banana skin for the Gills as Welton sit in mid table of the Western League First Division, one level below them. They knew that this was not going to be an easy game though as was proved by the Gills’ defeat in the FA Cup earlier this season by Corsham Town who are from the same Division.
The Gills cause wasn’t helped by the fact that there had been a lot of rain leading up to the match and the playing surface was very wet and sticky, thus being a great leveller. In the opening 10 minutes of the game there wasn’t a lot of good football played, but the game sprung into life after 12 minutes had been played. It was Welton who had the first real chance when Anthony Conradi got goal side of Jack Vallis but dragged his shot wide of the goal.
2 minutes later Malik Jammeh had a good chance to give the Gills the lead but, although his shot from outside the area had Welton Keeper Andrew King beaten, it sailed about a foot wide of the post
With 17 minutes played Phil Ormrod collected the ball well inside a crowded 18 yard box and his quick feet beat a couple of players and a third defender made a clumsy tackle that sent Phil sprawling and the Referee pointed to the spot. Ryan Murray stepped up to take the kick and blasted the ball down the middle only to see it blocked by King to deny the Gills an early lead.
After this the game deteriorated again with both sides struggling to play any quality football. The visitors were clearly the better team technically but fair play to Welton as they were spoiling the Gills’ play by working incredibly hard and their front two were really intelligent in either holding up the ball or playing on the break.
As a result the next good chance didn’t come till the 36 minute mark and this fell to Welton when a Tom Pawley shot from just outside the area was heading just inside the left hand post, but Gills’ keeper Jamie Beale pulled off a great one handed diving save to tip the ball around the post. With 4 minutes left in the half Welton had another good chance to take the lead but rather than laying the ball off, their striker took a shot that was blocked by three defenders and he then threw himself on the floor in an attempt to earn a penalty. Luckily the Referee was clear about what had happened and gave him a yellow card for diving.
So a first half that will not live long in the memory ended with the score at 0-0 and Welton getting the better chances but lucky not to be a goal down.
The Gills started the second half much better and after only 3 minutes a long kick by Jamie Beale left Steve Smith through on goal with just the keeper to beat, but from a tight angle he put his shot just wide of the post.
Although the Gills were starting to control the game more as the home team tired, it was Welton who had the next chance. With 56 minutes on the clock a ball was played across the face of goal and an unmarked Conradi at the back post somehow put his header wide of the post from inside the six yard box.
2 minutes before the hour mark a well struck shot by Aaron Rodriguez from outside the area was tipped over the bar by King for a corner. It was Aaron who took the corner and this was met by Phil Ormrod who headed the ball into the back of the net to give the Gills a 0-1 lead.
Getting the goal allowed the Gills to settle and this, together with Welton tiring, meant that the Gills really began to let their quality show. However, Welton were far from giving up and on the 60 minute mark a shot by Conradi from outside the area had Jamie Beale beaten but it luckily cannoned back off the crossbar. Just 2 minutes later Conradi tried the same thing but this time Jamie Beale pulled off a great save to tip the ball round the post.
After this the Gills slowed the game down and were playing some of the patient, probing football we have seen so often this season. This resulted in a few chances being made, including a Nick Thomson header which was cleared off the line and a Malik Jammeh shot from distance that sailed about a foot over the bar.
With just 4 minutes left to play Phil Ormrod charged down a clearance by the Welton keeper which left him through on goal, but the linesman incredibly awarded a free kick for handball.
In the very last minute of normal time Welton should have equalised when a low cross was met at the back post but Jamie Beale pulled off a fantastic close range save to keep the Gills’ lead intact. Moments later a shot by Nick Thomson from well inside the area was heading for goal with the keeper stranded when it struck the arm of a Welton defender, who was lucky to only receive a yellow card. The penalty was taken by Steve Smith this time and he tucked it just inside the left post to wrap up the victory for the Gills.
Man of the Match was Jamie Beale.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, Hatcher, Vallis, Jammeh, Bowles, Thompson (N Thomson 74), Vance (Clarke 60), Ormrod, Smith, Rodriguez (Chainey 69). Unused sub: Compton.
Terry Lucas
