Saturday 8th October 2011, saw the Gills take on Port Vale at Priestfield. There, certainly was a big change in the weather for this game, compared to the previous weekend hitting somewhere in the region of 29c. For this game it was to be an overcast and very cool 13c although pretty good for a game of football. After a pre match visit to the Cricketers we had a final stop before the game at the blues rock cafe, although the £3.20 for a pint of Johns Smith came as a bit of a shock! What happened to the £2 vouchers, I guess that must only be after the game? On entering the ground we took to our normal seats, to be welcomed by some new pre match entertainment in the name of the GFC Gems. They certainly brought some razzmatazz and glamour to the day events and to be honest, it was good to lighten up the mood and appeared to be a welcomed introduction. So the match got under way and Danny Kedwell nearly opens proceedings after only about four minutes, with a clearance kick by the Port Vale keeper, being charge down by Kedwell and only just clearing the goal. However, Port Vale was to also to be denied on about 26 minutes, when they rattled the Gillingham crossbar with Ross Flitney well beaten. On 32 minutes though, Port Vale was to take the lead when Marc Richards was to score from close range. That is how it ended at half time with Port Vale 1-0 up, although it certainly seemed a bit unjust on the Gills first half performance. I was at this stage beginning to think, no matter what the Gills failings in some previous games, sometimes it is down to just the pure rub of the green. The Gills for once I believe appeared to be here for a game and were for once to put in a 90 minute display. On 63 minutes Gillingham were to get their just reward, when Danny Kedwell scored from a twice taken penalty to bring the game level at 1-1. As for the match play, I was sometimes frustrated by Frank Noubles position on the right, not a criticism of the towering strength of the player, who appeared to be a target for some heavy stuff from the Port Vale players, although that is probably the only way you are going to stop a man of Franks size. I am not sure when big Franks loan spell is up but I really hope West Ham will allow it to be extended and that Chairman Scally has the finances to do so. As for Rooney, Iâve always been a supporter of his although I have had to doubt myself at times in the past. Today he did not disappoint and run is socks off, so much so that Hessy had to substitute him on 83 minutes for exactly that reason. I think the only change I would make from a personal opinion is to stop Rooney taking the corners, stats show that the total count was we had 11 corners but while watching the game, I never really felt we were going to score from any of them, which is a little frustrating. Matt Lawrence did not seem the player he was earlier in the season, he certainly did not appear to be so vocal in his communications, I can only think after his recent reported concussion at Hereford, then the slip at AFC Wimbledon, which led to their first goal, it has probably knocked his confidence a little bit. But all in all it was a fair 90 minute performance from the Gills today.
What you say about corners is something I have felt for a long long time with all dead ball situations. We never seem to make the most of them unfortunately.
