Radstock Town 0 v 2 Gillingham Town – 19/11/13
Manager Adrian Foster had most of his squad available for this game against ‘The Miners’, though Mallick Jammeh was still out through injury. Phil Ormrod, who missed Saturday’s game because of a facial injury, returned to a place on the bench.
The Gills started off well playing their usual neat passing football and as a result they dominated the early stages of the game in terms of possession and chances created. The first chance fell to Ben Thomson on the 8 minute mark, but he lost his balance as he shot and the effort went skywards.
Radstock’s first threat on goal came after 12 minutes of play but Gills’ keeper, Jamie Beale, was equal to the task and collected the low shot from just inside the area. Shortly after this Harry Baker came close to opening the scoring but, although his shot from the right hand edge of the area had the Radstock keeper Lewis Pierre beaten, it also went just wide of the far post. Harry came close again on the 19 minute mark when he tested Pierre who just about managed to block his volleyed shot.
Just before the half hour mark some great play by the Gills created a good chance for Ben Thomson but again he got his shot all wrong.
The Gills continued to dominate the game, looking by far the better side, but were still unable to open the scoring. This looked like it was going to change on the 30 minute mark when a long kick by Jamie Beale found its way through to Harry Baker who had raced clear of the defence beating the offside trap. Harry cleverly chipped the advancing Pierre from outside the area and the ball was heading towards goal when it hit a divot and spun off just outside the post.
Straight after this a mistake by a Radstock defender left the Gills with three attackers on two defenders and Aaron Rodriguez took a shot from a tight angle. This was well saved by Pierre and Aaron felt the wrath of a frustrated Steve Smith who had been unmarked in front of goal.
With 10 minutes till half time Aaron turned provider when, having beaten his marker, he crossed the ball into the penalty area where Harry Baker looked odds on to score but, yet again, the chance went begging.
With 43 minutes played Radstock had their second chance of the game and even this was a shot from distance that went a couple of yards wide of the post.
So the first half ended with the Gills being clearly the better team but being unable to convert pressure into goals leaving the score line still at 0-0 and the Gills susceptible to the infamous sucker punch.
All this changed as the second half got off to a dream start for the Gills when, in only the second minute they opened the scoring. Jon Vance put a ball into the area and this was headed home from close range by Steve Smith to give the Gills a deserved 1-0 lead.
This goal allowed the Gills to relax and as a result their game improved even more and with 8 minutes played they doubled their lead. Ryan Murray drove down the right wing and delivered a superb cross into the area which was again met by the head of Steve Smith giving Pierre no chance.
Just 3 minutes later it looked as if the Gills would get a third when Harry Baker rounded Pierre, but the keeper had driven him wide of goal and he scuffed his tight angle shot allowing a covering defender to clear the danger. However, the ball then fell to Ben Thomson and his well struck shot from outside the area had to be cleared off the line by a defender.
On the hour mark The Miners had a rare shot at goal but, although on target this was kept out by Jamie Beale with a spectacular flying save.
Next up with a chance for the Gills was Jon Vance whose fierce shot from well outside the area left Pierre a spectator but it went about a yard wide of the post.
After this the Gills slowed the game down with their possession play and never looked in danger of giving up their two goal lead.
So the game ended with a comfortable 0-2 win for the Gills in a game which they commanded from beginning to end. The win lifted the Gills to the top of the table and keeps up the pressure on the other teams around them who have games in hand.
Man of the Match was Steve Smith.
Next up are fellow high flyers Street away on Saturday.
Gills line-up: Beale, Murray, N Thomson, Vallis, Vance, Compton, Baker (Chainey 75), Clarke (Cox 73), Smith (Ormrod 66), B Thomson, Rodriguez. Unused subs: Foster, Thompson.
Terry Lucas
