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| It's a sign (literally)! We're gonna win this one... |
A couple of weeks after the debacle at Crawley, we're now talking of the play-offs. This division is hilarious. While we've won a couple and lost a couple all season, flirting with relegation for the bit part, somehow, after 3 consecutive wins (and none conceded) we're now in with a promotion shout. How can this be?
Well, firstly, at Gillingham, we looked vaguely organised. Everyone seemed to know their position and their job. This was probably the best performance I've seen since beating Bradford at home in...oooh...October? Maybe they were putting on a special show for everyone's favourite national socialist sympathiser Bob, over from Vienna for his 'local' game. (Hi Bob!!)
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| 'Welcome 2 Pikeyville' |
Pre-match was a personal nightmare. I missed my train from Peckham Rye, rocking up at 11:01 to find the 11:02 had just left. Ba5tards. Then Gerry couldn't find Norris at St. Pancras, leading me to call Gerry 30 times - more calls than I've made thus far this year. It transpired he had a new phone but had no idea how to answer it, apart from the one time he did - 'Gerry, meet me in Gillingham'. Naturally, I found him outside the wrong entrance, but hey ho. Taxi to the Will Adams to meet an extended Londontyke turnout, including Slacki's Yank mate and Bob's German colleague. They must be mad.
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| Scaffolding Central. How long can a stand be considered 'temporary'? |
*** Pearson. Ran midfield. What I especially like is the way he anticipates where an opposition player will control the ball to, and just nicks it off them. That he then passes to a player in a red shirt is a mere bonus, while his ability to run at the opposition thereby making all kinds of space (for others to fail to capitalise on)...
** Crainie. Is this the same bloke who capitulated at Crawley? Marshalled the defence superbly, especially n the 1st half when Gills threatened.
* Davies. What can I say? Had little to do (but did it) but then saved a one-on-one (like v Crewe t'other week) to maintain our lead. I cannot believe this bloke's transformation, from the panicky shambles we had earlier in the season. Good on him, keep it up. 3 appearances, 3 clean sheets. Coincidence?
Londontykes top 3:
1. Pearson
2= Crainie / Davies
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| Union Jacks...and UKIP down the road (Rochester). |
Despatches:
I like the look of O'Sullivan. He runs at players, and should he lose it (often), he tracks back as quickly as possible too. Hourihane - I don't know why I bother commenting. You know the drill. The one time he COULD have made a difference, we're 2 on 1 with Lalkovic on the overlap, an easy ball through makes him one-on-one. Instead, Hourihane overhits it, Lalkovic is forced wide and has no choice but to knock it back to Hourihane for the (weak) shot. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd be convinced Hourihane did this on purpose, so that HE rather than Lalkovic, would get the opportunity. But I don't think he has that level of footballing intelligence. Least, not looking at the rest of his game. Scowen was excellent, though what some of his biggest fans (Loko, Hicksy) won't be able to point out to you was the way we blazed a 1st half chance over the bar - cos they'd gone for a beer. So it didn't happen. He was perfect.
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| Match action |
Waring had a half-decent game, though he's no Rory Fallon. He even grabbed the only goal; an unstoppable tap in from 3 yards out. I have a theory: if you stand still long enough, if the opposition consider you absolutely no goal threat at all, you will, by law of averages, be left alone long enough to grab a goal every 5 games by simply being in the 6 yard box. So it has been with both of his goals for us thus far. This time, while Gills fans and players fell about laughing as Holgate completely missed the ball, Pearson followed up, hit a long shot which the keeper parried straight to Waring. Impossible to miss. Smith and Nyatanga played well, Holgate less so. Lalkovic looked dangerous, but never really delivered. He needs to know when to take a player on rather than dink little balls in for a centre forward who won't be there.
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| Main Stand |
12th - onwards and upwards! Johnson becomes, statistically, the most successful manager in BFCs history since Mick Wadsworth was once in charge for one game (also a 1-0 win).
Drink du jour: The Will Adams did Erdinger, which was nice of them. So me and all the real ale drinkers were happy. I missed the trip to the Flying Scotsman. It was that or a romantic (birthday) meal for two.
Damage:
15 entry. Seats in the open. Of course it rained.
15 train
3 programme
3.30 steak and ale pie. Absolutely superb.
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| The 'ginnel' behind the away end |
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| The Winners |
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| Goodbye Gillingham! |
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