Tuesday midweek games at Priestfield are always a challenge in getting to the ground on time, the 20th November 2012 was to be no different. I am sure many Gills supporters would have felt the subsequent knock on affect of the crane that broke down in the roadworks on the London bound M2. I arrived in time to take to my seat just at kick off, to have a quick look at the Gillingham line up on the pitch which was missing our striker Danny Kedwell and Danny Jackman replacing Andy Frampton at left back as we took on Exeter City. The home side started with the customary field of play towards the away supporters in the Brian Moore Stand. Not a welcoming evening for the travelling supporters in the uncovered stand, with the rain swirling around within the stadium. Both teams started well, with Exeter making an early push towards the Gillingham goal with quite some notable pace. However, it was the Gills that were to open the scoring early when a through ball by Lewis Montrose found Chris Whelpdale, now it initially looked as though it was too far ahead of him from where I was sitting and that the keeper would collect comfortably with the support of his defender but Whelpdale somehow managed to get a touch that slotted home the ball, leading Exeter ruing some possible confusion? 1-0 Gills. Gillingham then for the next 20 minutes appearing in my view to want to take some pace out of the game and maintained possession. Playing keep ball with the back line through to midfield, this was working fine and the home side certainly appeared to have the advantage until number eight Charlie Lee conceded a foul some yards outside the box. He was shown a yellow card. Immediate thought was he would not be appearing for the second half. I did not expect what came next, the Gills were to be severely punished for the foul as Alan Gow takes the direct free kick for Exeter, which from long range he powered into the Gillingham goal and beyond the diving reach of Stuart Nelson. Probably one of the best taken free kicks that I have seen at Priestfield this season, 1-1. Despite that goal Exeter rarely looked threatening in the first half they seemed to struggle to find that finishing touch, although if they were to get their game together I believed their pace could unlock the Gills. Although it was the Gills that continued to push forward, several chances going just wide of the mark. There was a point to note that I wanted to make and that was soon after Exeter had scored we were awareded a free kick roughly the same distance in the Exeter half from their goal. I waited for the usual shot into the opposition wall and true enough it happened, where was our free kick specialist? Half time and the score remained level. Myles Weston came on for Charlie Lee in the second half as expected but this time it was Exeter who started to take control of the game. Several lapses by the defence and miscued passes were allowing the visitors to break through. We were eventually to be punished for this by that earlier mentioned pace and who else but Jamie Cureton was to give Exeter the lead after we failed to clear, 1-2 Exeter. What was starting to concern we was the wind and rain within the stadium, so much so I even did not see Exeterâs second goal clearly as I arranging my coat to protect myself from the worsening conditions. Looking across the pitch my concerns were we were now playing into these conditions and Exeter appeared to have the advantage with the wind behind them. Something we appeared to have overlooked. Further substitutions were to follow with Romain Vincelot replacing Lewis Montrose and later Danny Kedwell replacing Ben Strevens. Gillingham prior to this match had only lost two games this season, ironic that both of those losses were when Keds did not start. My observations from the substitutions were that Myles Weston was failing to have any great impact down the left wing. Despite his darting runs, he was quite often out of position for the ensuing play. He was failing to get past his Exeter markers and at times his static position was gaining my attention with quiet frustration. Kedwell was centre collecting delivery of the long balls by Nelson and maintaining physical control well with back to goal reminiscence of Akinfenwa but any forthcoming distribution was quickly closed down by his markers. So who should the next chance fall to none other than light footed Danny Jackman who seemed to appear from nowhere and sprung into action outside the box taking the whole Exeter defence by surprise to power the ball home towards a jubilant Rainham End, 2-2. Around the 85th minute mark, disaster was to strike for the Gills again when I thought Fish was judged to have fouled an Exeter player in the box, I later learned it was Vincelot. Penalty was given. Nelson dives to his left and makes a comfortable save, the score remained 2-2 and with the minutes ticking away on the clock, I would be grateful for the one point tonight. However, just one minute after that penalty save further frustrations was to set in as Cureton again found space in the Gillingham box, 2-3 Exeter. I turned to my son and said I could see no way back from this and just looking across at the Gillingham goalkeeper who had only earlier saved a penalty his frustrations was evident for everybody to see. The difference in the teams today were we had an off day in defence to which I am sure Barratt will put his hands up too, against a team full of pace and Jamie Cureton. The more the game went on there was only going to be one outcome. This defeat will certainly not bode well with some fans after the recent news in regards to Jack Payne but my personal view is you are going to suffer these defeats along the way and most League Two sides will not be the calibre of Exeter City. It is never nice to lose but I am not to disheartened we are still top of the league and have come a long way these 19 games into the season.
"I'm going for a home win. Another close one... Gills 1 (Whelpdale) Exeter 0 .......if we can remember to mark their leading goalscorer....unlike today. Too close for comfort and as a game posed more questions than provided answers." This was my prediction thread for last night's game. The last 4 games have been a 'dip' in performance and if I can see it from 3000 miles away then it must be totally obvious to the management. I may be held up as a doom monger but I have passionately followed the Gills of over 40 years. We do not, at the moment have a recognised 'full time striker' and we are now starting to get caught out....especially at home. Saturday's game away against Accrington will, I believe, be pivotal. Anything less than a win will be seen as a confirmation in this dip of form (especially in defence) and will have the rest of the following pack rubbing their hands in glee and anticipation. We now lack that knock out punch and the past four results have been, statistically, those of a mediocre team. Come on MA sort this out quickly........please.
A very fair description brb which provides a good basis for analysis. Your description probably failed to recognise just how good was Jackman's goal, goal of the season I suggest and even better than Burton's very good effort on Saturday. A few comments from another Medway stand observer. First of all the response from everyone around me when the team was announced was unanimous...we are always in trouble if Kedwell is not selected and is Charlie Lee going to do something stupid? Secondly the team played in a very "narrow" way especially in midfield and there was little play within 10 yards of either touchline. Thirdly Exeter had some quality and it was interesting to see who was exposed by opposition of a higher skill level. Surprisingly Davies and Barrett looked most exposed by the higher skill level. Fourthly it felt just like last season....Fantastic entertainment a kamikazi display from midfield who offered the defence little support but disappointing because Gills fans do not good entertainment if we lose. Key questions are; Was it just a bad night when the run of the ball just favoured the opposition in a closely contested game? Is it really necessary to keep freshening the squad? This lot are not playing internationals and European games and there is no benefit from following Premiership or Serie A habits of rotating the squad. Are we struggling because Winter conditions approach? Dimson's dwarfs could beat anyone with a passing game when the weather was dry, sunny and calm but they did not have a hope in a physical battle on a muddy pitch. Successful teams need to cope with all manner of conditions and tactics. On balance there is little to worry about and other top teams are losing points. There is an abundance of talent and the manager might like to consider more consistency in his selections which he will probably do.
A very good point about the free kicks brb and something that I have noticed as being poor all season. This really needs improving. All we do is shift it to the side for Kedwell or Burton to whack it into the wall. Good opportunities wasted.
I watched the video of this match for the first time this afternoon. Several points I noted from previous comments here and on other threads. Our first goal Whelpdale should never have been able to get too and it certainly appears again watching it back a mix up between the Exeter player and Keeper. Fantastic Exeter freekick equaliser and as good as I first thought. bristol407 was correct in I failed to give due recognition for how good was Danny Jackman's goal. I just appeared to see him appear like a flash of lightening at the game but watching the video back you get a true reflection of it. Now to Exeter's winner or should I say the penalty save a minute earlier. All good with hindsight I know but when Nelson saved that penalty, not one player congratulated him. I thought we were a team? We could have wasted vital seconds of the game. We knew how good Exeter were at that point in time, so rather than hold the ball Nelson decided to lump it immediately down field and within a minute Exeter scored!
