‘Ah’m a northerner, ah’ve spit roasted animals’
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| A couple of randoms (true) pose in front of the legendary Gills' away end. |
I love going to Gillingham. No, really. Far enough out of London that it’s a bit of a trip, close enough that I can be home for 7…or close enough that I can say I’ll be home for 7 and scrape in for midnite. That micropub was a cracker, though I don’t remember balancing an apple on my head (just seen a pic earlier). How drunk was I? And why not? We’d just crushed the Gills with the minimum of effort, winning for all but the first 15 seconds of the game. Wow!
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| Easy! Easy! Players and fans rush to mob Cauley. |
If I said we’d already missed a chance before we scored, it shows our early (very early) domination. McGeehan coulda scored and Kiefer bagged the rebound. We were even in the ‘stadium’ to see it, though it was at the far end. Mowatt then cannons one of the bar from what looks like 3 yards, but could be 15 for all we know. Every time we get the ball we look like we can cut Gillingham to bits, though they hit us on the break and Davies makes a decent stop. Then, with half time looming, the Wing Wonder Mamadou crosses superbly to the back post and Cauley loops a header over the keeper and it drops agonisingly (for them) into the far corner. F***ing yes!
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| The end we were scoring in, 1st half. |
Unlike previous trips to the Priestfield ‘Stadium’ in February, the weather has been kind to us (apart from a small shower in the 2nd half). The sun is out, we are swanning around, fans are chanting something about Brazil and all is right in the world. And it gets better, as Cauley crashes one in at the back post. Was it off a corner? Open play? I don’t remember. But his technique is second to none. So he gets taken off. (Does Stendel have something against goalscorers? He took Thiam off last game having bagged…) Shame for Woodrow, who was sniffing the hattrick.
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| Welcome to .... |
We look so comfortable…we let them score, and still bag another. Dunno what quite happened for theirs, looked like it pinged around our box while everyone stood and stared. For us, Brown (whothehell is Potts?) bags another, banging one in off the underneath of the bar. Who doesn’t love those goals? But inbetween we have real concern as Kiefer is carried off late on, after 10 minutes of medical help. What’s that going over the hill? Our promotion chances, probably. Here’s hoping it’s ‘only’ concussion and he’ll be back in a week. Out for the season and we’re relying on Cauley to complete his first 8 months of action since…well, since he was 12, probably.
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| Concern, as star striker Kiefer is laid out. |
Still, the players get a great reception from the fans. We have put another side to the sword, scored 4 (again) and still look the best team in the division (‘IMHO’). Fingers crossed for Kiefer!!!!!!!
In a word: blistering
Onwards and upwards!
*** Cauley Woodrow. He’s playing in the wrong division.
** Brown. Quick, skilful, scores goals, can find others with a pass. I’m struggling to find fault with our former reserve right back / centre forward.
* Mowatt. Makes things look easy. Cos they are, if you’ve got talent.
Londontykes' MOTM: 1= Brown / Mowatt / Woodrow
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| Full-time. Goodbye Gillingham away end. |
Despatches:
Everyone had a decent game individually. And good to see Mr Pinnock (senior) as left. He was in good spirits too.
Drink du jour: Well….cherry cider, strawberry cider…pale ale. Owt but cooking lager (which is why we never saw Pompey and Tim in the pub, they’d gone to sniff out Fosters). Could we stay down, just to go to that pub again?Away: c.800. But where were the home fans? Struggling to make the 4000 barrier, very poor.
The Damage:
£18.90 train
£20 ent
= £38.90
Prog? Yeah, if you see one. How can we walk straight from town centre to away end and not a programme seller in sight?
The Tunes:
Let England Shake (PJ Harvey)
Stay Gold (First Aid Kit)
Summer Special (Euros Childs)
Vulnicura (Bjork)
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| Gillingham v Barnsley panorama |
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| Turn left outside the station and keep walking... |
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| Some dodgy characters getting frisked. |
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| Our pleasure! |
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| The most permanent temporary stand I know. |
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| The teams ready themselves for kick-off. |
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| The old folks are given some cover. |
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| The old Main Stand. |
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| Match action. |
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| Either a very very good idea. Or not. |
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| The Barnsley hordes. |
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| The KM Medway Stand. |
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| The players await a corner. |
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| Home, and the bright lights of Peckham. |
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