Today I not only witnessed but felt that euphoria as a season ticket holder when the ball crossed the York City goal line to bring the score level at 1-1. With a certain Gills number 29 running towards the corner flag between the Medway and Rainham End Stands in celebration, his face beaming with a smile, arms aloft beckoning in delight towards the baying faithful and my one scream said it all in three very simple words. âCody is Backâ. No Gills fan needs telling who we are talking about, it was not until near the hour mark the player was introduced to the game with the home side trailing 0-1. Yet he was there for every ball that came into the box, just fractions of a second from delivering on his return from the moment he touched the turf. In a customary Cody McDonald goal poaching manner, he was waiting to pounce on any deflection or keeper error. Then 15 minutes in from Cody stepping foot on the Priestfield surface, Myles Weston sent in a cross from the right for Cody to rise above a packed six yard box and for the crowd to erupt as it rustled the back of the net. Gillingham FC second in League Two had just closed the gap to one point with a game in hand on current league leaders Port Vale. Imagine with the minutes ticking down on the GRS clock, if he had managed to add a second when he broke on goal, this was the CodyMac we all remembered. Saturday 26th January 2013, certainly started well with blue sky and the sun shining as the 6 degrees temperature had all but diminished the previous weeks snow fall. Some cheeky young lad taking the opportunity at the front of the Medway Stand taking ice ball shots at the opposition players as they warmed up down the touch line. In a week where the media attention has been on ball boys and some new found game of laying on the ball! Once the game had got under way there certainly were some team changes that I was not expecting. Matt Fish who had been our ever consistent starting right back this season was to be replaced by Charlie Lee, or I assume that was the position he had taken up. Sadly this was not to be the number eight Leeâs day of good fortune, nothing to do with the early awarded own goal he NEVER conceded after 17 minutes, but more to do with Charlie Lee clashing heads with Yorkâs number two in an unfortunate incident around the 67th minute. It is a scary few moments when you see a player go to ground and face down without movement. The referee immediately blew his whistle and brought the game to a halt, frantically waving for assistance to come on. The opposing player regained his composure to applause from the ground but Charlie was still down. He attempted to get back up but was clearly affected by the collision. Martin Allen had already used up all of his substitutions but once Lee felt he had recovered and attempted to return to the pitch, Mad Dog was gesturing to him to sit back down on the bench. After initially adhering to the bosses instructions, like a warrior and the team player he is, Lee wanted to continue as part of the game. To say I was worried about him would be an understatement but I would not want to be the one to tell him he should not continue. He did take another brief departure from the pitch after attempting a throw in that went astray but if Martin Allen is a Mad Dog then Charlie is the pit bull. After that event it put everything in perspective. We are in the automatic promotion positions, we have players who battle with their life for the badge they wear on their shirt, sharing the same passion as the supporters. So forget about the 35 minutes at the end of the first half, where sadly booâs rang out at halftime from the Rainham End but remember three things, we are in a auto position, Cody is back and Charlie Lee demonstrated what team spirit and guts is all about. We should remember that York City went into this game having only lost three of their last 14 away games and seven of them were a draw. So a draw was to be the inevitable result today as there are very few teams in league two this season that are not putting in remarkable performances with attacking agility very rarely witnessed at this level. Anyone doubting that should look no further than Premiership side Aston Villa, who got a taste of the level we are at against League Two Bradford City in mid-week. Roll on Tuesday, when we welcome Bayo Akinfenwaâs Northampton Town who are currently third and maybe with just another touch of Cody magic and Leeâs spirit, we will return to the top of the league.
Great report, I am happy with the spirit of Lee but I hope he plays better. Today was not a good game for him but he did get better I know I may have been a bit harsh on him but I am giving my opinion he was one of my favorites but he has not been the same this season.
Charlie Lee was still struggling with the pain from his hand injury at that corner. He was right in front of me and he looked really pale! And there was worse to come for him....
One of the maddest decisions this season as he has been top class. Much better player and my favorite now, probably player of the year.
Gills were much improved once Fish came on but out of MA's series of bizarre selections today, I could understand why he did not start with Fish. Up till November, much of Gills attacking threat has come from Fish galloping down the right side but this hasn't happened in recent weeks. Whether this is due to tactics, form or the opposition I do not know. It seems to me that the success formula for away sides at Priestfield has been to spread 5 across the midfield and always have enough width to close out any Gills threat from the flanks and it seems to work. In the second half MA had Weston and Fish squeezed right up against the same touchline and it did work and it produced the goal. The penny seemed to drop with Fish that he is as important as an attacker as a defender and this may be good news. I reckon he will be selected from the start on Tuesday and told to race down that wing at every opportunity.
brb- I'm delighted with your refreshing change of mood, not a single complaint about the age of our players. Keep it up old chap!! I would add that none of the chasing pack are making up much ground with Port Vale, Cheltenham and Rotherham all drawing or losing.
York certainly made it tough and the absence of Fish was asurprise but I feel that the early substitution to bring on Weston for Frampton shows that Allen recognises when the tactics are wrong and is willing to change them. One of the most frustrating aspects of last season was that the coaching team stuck to failing tactics for 70 minutes before making changes. I believe that we will get an automatic promotion spot and should push to win the Division outright.
fish probably needs a rest, he has been one of only a few players to be a mainstay despite allens rotation policy and with tougher games coming up maybe allen thought it best ot keep him fresh and that lee would be a good enough replacement. does highlight the need for another out and out right back come rb/cb player tho
