Gillingham Town 0 v 1 Street 08/03/14
This game was 3rdagainst 4that Hardings Lane and the teams pretty much cancelled each other out with the only separator being a superbly struck free kick.
The Gills got off to a bright start and the opening stages of the game saw them create several half chances, though none of these could be converted. Steve Smith went close to opening the scoring just past the 20 minute mark but his flicked header from the edge of the area went just wide of goal.
Street were struggling to threaten the Gill goal but went close when Jamie Beale scuffed a clearance to a Street player. The ball was put back towards goal and Jamie had to scamper back to clear the effort off the line. However, the danger wasn’t over as the ball went to another Street player and Jamie had to pull off a great save to prevent the Gills going a goal down.
After this the Gills continued to be in the ascendency and went close when an Aaron Rodriguez cross was met at the back post by Aidan Kirby. Unfortunately the ball bobbled just before he got it and his shot from well inside the six yard box skewed wide of the mark. The Gills’ next chance also came from a left wing cross, this time from Nick Thomson. Which also fell to Aidan Kirby but once again the shot was off target.
Despite their dominance, and completely against the run of play, the Gills went a goal behind after 37 minutes when they were awarded a free kick just outside the left hand edge of the area. Lee Smyth stepped up and curled his effort round the wall and into the corner of the goal giving Jamie Beale no chance.
After this Street grew in confidence but the Gills continued to edge the game, though they couldn’t find a way through to goal, so went in at half time losing 0-1.
Street were more impressive when the second half got underway, but it was the Gills again who created chances early in the half. First Nick Thomson saw a well struck effort from outside the area sail just over the bar and then Aaron Rodriguez saw his effort go the same way.
Just past the hour mark Aidan Kirby played a ball across the face of the goal and Steve Smith fought with a defender to get to the ball first. The ball struck the pair of them as they fell to the floor and spun up straight into the arms of Street ‘keeper Nathan Whatley.
With 15 minutes left to play it seemed like the game was over as a contest when Jamie Beale brought down a player on the edge of his area and the Referee pointed to the penalty spot. Mark Salter took the penalty and struck it well but Jamie Beale blocked the effort with strong hands to keep his side in the game.
4 minutes later Street nearly scored again when a simple lofted ball into the box seemed to fox everybody, including Jamie Beale, and bounced towards the goal. Luckily Nick Thomson saw the danger and quickly covered the yards to clear the ball off the goal line.
The Gills had a great chance to draw level with just 7 minutes left to play when a cross made its way through to an unmarked Ashley Clarke. He seemed certain to score but his stooping header from the edge of the six yard box in front of goal flew up over the bar.
Despite their best efforts the Gills just couldn’t find a way through the determined Street defence and the game finished with a 0-1 defeat for the Gills.
Man of the Match was Nick Compton.
The next game for the Gills is Tuesday when they travel to Ashton & Backwell Utd in the Les Phillips Cup. The winner of this game will be at home to Larkhall Athletic on 25thMarch.
Gills line-up: Beale, Sansom, N Thomson, Compton, Hewlett (Lynn 54), Agbo (Thompson 65), Cox, Clarke, Smith, Kirby, Rodriguez (Clark 74).
Terry Lucas
