Much better performance much stronger still need to work on getting to the ball but that was about 90% there, I am very happy with the performance. I will post a match report later on.
lucky start for the Gills which was so important. Half time very lucky to be leading, second half much better with some battling performances especially by Barrett who was easily m o m. Important win and hopefully can win some more at home. We Are Top Of The League.
Not that I'm a particular fan of his, but it's worth pointing out that Frampton had a really good game tonight. UTG!
A much better performance I ain't got long to talk about it as I have college in the morning and have to get up early so I will write a bit now and I will write more tomorrow. This was a much better game and in the tough conditions it was a great result against a in-form team who have had some good results of late, we controlled the game from start to finish, Northampton did try to get into the game at times but we kept them out and all players played a part today. Nelson 7- He was better today, few kicks went wrong but he could not help that with the wind, he made a few good saves. Fish 7- He was decent today good in the air spent more time at the back and worked hard. Barrett 7- Much better, he was strong and tough showed why he is captain, very good in the air and cleared everything. Legge 7- Very strong much better than at the weekend and I am so happy that we have him as he made sure that when Bayo come on that he did not get much of a chance as he marked him and he was very effective. Martin 5- Not his best game as many things went wrong but he did have a lot to do but sadly when it came to defending he kept getting beaten by the Northampton players. Lee 7- Much better and looked back to his best, great in the air and won the ball all the time, he is our little pitball and he worked his arse off today and kept running after them which is what I love about him. Gregory 7- He was much better and he does look decent, I think he will be a good player as he was good and strong today and done his job. Frampton 8- This must have been his best game yet for the club, I usually criticise him but today he was top class and I can’t see how anyone can fault him, MA got it right today as he kept on winning the ball and getting stuck in and he played through Cody and Weston a few times and I am so happy that he proved me wrong however he needs to do that on a regular basis but I would still bring in someone else but at least we know he can do the job there. Weston 8- He was brilliant and worked hard from start to finish running and running and winning us the ball and he showed why we brought him in, great goal as well not many players can land the ball drag it wide and put it away like he does at this level. Burton 5- Some may think I am being a bit harsh but I did not think he was great as he can’t deal with the long ball and he was not what we needed today but he was OK however he did lose the ball a few times. McDonald 8- So good to see him back and see that he can put away his changes, good poachers goal and good work to put their keeper under pressure. Subs Allen, Kedwell and Whelpdale were not on long enough for me to give a rating. For once I have to say the match officials were not bad, they done a good job only making a few mistakes but most of the time they got it right so well done to them. Man of the match at the game was given to Weston and I think it is close between him, Frampton and McDonald but for his work rate and the rareness that he is this good I would name Andy Frampton man of the match for his pure work rate and controlling of midfield. UTG top of the league and I am very happy.
Yes not just me that thinks that then, if you read my report you will find that I am not normally a fan of him but I have to give him a lot of praise today.
I thought Frampton was absolutely outstanding tonight. It just showed that if you give him the right job he can be excellent. The back four were pretty solid but there is no escaping the fact that if Northampton had put just a few of their first half chances away, they would have been out of sight.
Having criticised Frampton in the recent past, I feel it only fair to give praise for his performance tonight. He had a good game. I still have reservations about his holding midfielder role - but perhaps his presence and qualities were what was required in the awful weather conditions. Legge and Barrett also coped well with the big Northampton forwards. Weston had his best game for a while - and his goal was one of the few pieces of genuine quality. It has been said already that we got a lucky early break - but the weather conditions were the same for both teams - and given that Northampton were top of the current form league - this was a very important win.
I have not read around yet but before I do and get influenced by comments, I thought for the first time in a while that was a good all round performance tonight. I said at half time to my son when he asked about the usual half time substitutions, I said, I would change nothing and keep doing what we are doing. Good call on the selections for this game. Also I thought we did the right thing by playing the clock down in the second half and stopping all this attack, attack, attack approach. It would have been fatal otherwise. We were patient and the second goal came. After that Northampton had just given up, you could see it in their approach after that, they looked well demoralised.
I know this has gone but this is a report i did for a blog i was running,maybe you would like a read. Gillingham vs. Northampton town report. I like to start to say this was my first game of the season, so was excited going to this, There was a buzz of something special to happen as I went in the ground bought my program, and took to my seat. Now with this game being a battle between to clubs sitting 2nd and 3rd in league two was always going to be a tight affair, and with the rain and swirling windy conditions, this did not help the football as a spectacle, but saying this it was still an enjoyable game. I was sat in the Medway stand just to the right of the dugout, which gave me a good insight of the two managers; both bring something different to the game. The officials were ok, cannot give any more than that as I think they made a few mistakes, that should never have happened, was one offside that should have been given in the second half against akinfenwa, but never amounted to anything so the linesman got away with that one, the other was the same linesman and should have been a throw to Northampton Town, but was given to Gillingham, right in front of Ade Boothroyd, which I can safely say the linesman knew about it afterwards. Now onto the referee, an early booking for Frampton, which in my opinion should never have been as he got the ball, and a few little things in the game, which will give him the benefit of the doubt as he is in a better position than me, and decisions are made on sight of the angle you are in. The teams lined up like this…….. Gillingham Nelson Fish Legge Barrett Martin Lee (Allen 90) Gregory Frampton Weston (Kedwell 86) Burton McDonald (Whelpdale 82) Unused subs: Forecast, Davies, Strevens, Birchall. Overall a good performance from the home team, not much for Nelson to worry about, one very good save in the first half, apart from that the defence held strong. Players that stood out for me was Frampton- Strong and worked hard in the middle of the park, Lee- Was involved I a lot of good things that came from Gillingham, and finally Burton-just showed his class, held the ball up well, strong to keep the ball in tight, tough circumstances. Northampton Town Nicholls Widdowson Guttridge (Akinfenwa 63) Langmead Harding Platt Hackett Tozer Robinson (Demontagnac 80) Hornby Carlisle. Unused subs: Johnson, Snedker, Wilson, Moult, Oyeleke. The away side play ok, most of their good work, came from wide areas, after a knock down from Platt, But after a mis-judgement from Nicholls, allowed McDonald in to score the first, due to the high winds. Stand out players for me were Platt-Was strong, and good in the air, but without threatening, Hackett was sharp down the wing’s but no one in the box to aim for, and finally Akinfenwa when he came on was a different kind of threat, still no pace, but strong, very strong, held the ball up well in the difficult conditions. The result The 2-0 does not do Northampton justice, they probably felt they deserved something out of the game, for me only a goal; overall the deserved winners were Gillingham, Even though the weather, did not help the game at all, and could have helped either side. So the goals, the first one as mentioned earlier was an error of judgement, and then McDonald went around the back for an easy tap in. 1-0 GILLS!!! The second was a sweet piece of work by Weston, received Tapped it past the defender, using his pace got goal side and with a quality finish planted it in the corner, great goal and killed the game 2-0 GILLS. Now for man of the match for me there were some contenders for this with good performances. Burton Weston Frampton Lee I personally would give it to Weston for a piece of magic to secure the game, and for the tireless work he put in. Well done Gillingham and keep up the good work.
I remember back to this game and Frampton worked very hard if I remember correctly and I think I gave the man of the match to him but Weston was the man of the match and played well as well.
