BFC 2-1 Gillingham, Saturday 1st September 2018

(Apologies, I'm out of practice, so the words have hardly flowed today.  Maybe it's that vodka...)

Town centre improvements continue apace.

‘Good to be back (good to be back)’

Why do we never hear that song anymore?  Anyway, after 5 weeks away with the Vietcong and the Khmer Rouge, it was OPENING DAY OF THE SEASON time.  Well, it was for Jonesy and I, who were all excited to be back from our hols to see the legends in action, in actual winning football.  We’d heard the hype; Mowatt was back from the dead and running midfield.  Dougall was winning everything, allowing others to play.  We were creating chances, we were scoring goals, we were winning matches.  Everyone agreed – winning 3^rd division games was far preferable to losing every week in the 2^nd.  

The pre-match climb to Oakwell.

We Megabused it up, 8am from Victoria.  Lords Selwood, Slacki and Reed would not be having any of this, but the edge was taken off by some fine Corsican wheat beer.  (Jonesy: you may bring me more of that.)  We were in ‘tarn’ by 10 past 12, early enough for a nose around the new ‘Glassworks’ market in the town centre.  Smart enough, but not exactly a roaring success, more empty stalls than full.  Then to the Old Number 7 (I’ve missed you.)

Queing at the Ponty.

It was a fine day too, the sun shining…and Gillingham were finding us too hot to handle.  I’m not sure they even left their half, such was our superiority.  And despite men behind the ball, we took an early lead, as Moore hit one early from 20 yards, surprising the keeper and finding the near post.  Good strike, but I’d be livid if Davies let one in like that.  Around the half hour mark, we doubled the lead, as we were awarded our first penalty at Oakwell in 22 months.  (Two different people told me this, so it must be true.)  It was a soft one too, as the Reds take a short corner, Penniless cuts inside and stumbles.  Maybe he got a clip, maybe he didn’t.  Moore drives the ball straight down the middle as the keeper dives right.  This is too easy.

The keeper dives out of the way of Moore's pen.

Two-nil flattered Gillingham at half-time.  We were so much on top it was unfunny.  Moore could have had 3 or 4, while Penniless had a 25 yard piledriver tipped over.  Still, we had our warning, as Gills had a goal disallowed in the last minute, a cross shot from the left being bundled home.  Just as I’d been complimenting Pinnock’s ability not to dive in and give a foul away (as Lindsay had done a minute or 2 before), he stood off and allowed the left winger space to put the ball in.  We got away with that one.

A busy Ponty End.

Second half, and all that could stop us was complacency.  Moore was still being a pain in the proverbial and coulda…shoulda…scored at least 2 in goalmouth scrambles (not connecting properly), while the keeper saved a spectacular snapshot from a narrow angle.  Long shots from other players (Mowatt, Moncur) were finding the stands.  Still, it was too easy.  Which was why we couldn’t be ar5ed to mark a bloke on the front post off a corner.  I think Davies saved the flick on, but the ball fell kindly and somehow, somehow, Gillingham were back in the game.  (With regards to defending corners, would we do any worse if we replaced Davies with someone who has no arms?  Does he ever come out and catch a ball?)

Gills' 259.  Thanks for coming.

Anyway, it was obviously all Potts’ fault, cos he was instantly dragged off for Adeboyejo.  For a few minutes, our composure fell apart, as players now found the opposition or the sidelines with simple passes (Lindsay, for one).  Good job Gillingham were/are s***.  They even had a chance to equalise, but a shot from 10 yards was hit wide.  A draw would’ve been a travesty, yet at the same time our own fault.  Still, nice to moan about a victory.

*** Moore.  (Literally) head and shoulders above anything else on the park.  Twitter MOTM.  Could’ve scored half a dozen, but a couple of saves and one cleared off the line suggest he wasn’t doing too much wrong. 

** Potts.  Sprayed the ball about, drove on, shrugged off lesser mortals.  I couldn’t see why he was subbed.

* Penniless.  While he had a couple of big moments in the 1^st half, he was superb the 2^nd, getting forward, whipping in crosses and defensively sound.  Is this the player Forest fans were raving about?  (Another one back from the dead.)

Londontykes' MOTM:  1. Moore  2. Pinillos  3. Pinnock

Welcome to ...

Despatches:

It was a difficult day to judge the new superstar Dougall, as Gillingham offered nothing.  But he made one great track back that I noticed.  As for midfield buddies Mowatt and Moncur…well, while they interlinked quite well at times, their main contribution appeared to be an ability to hit the ball over the bar with BOTH feet.  Real talent, that. Thiam was quiet.  Looked fast enough to beat his player, powerful enough, skilful enough…but looks like his brain doesn’t function quick enough to put these attributes to use.  Pinnock looked classy (no change there) but I do have one (mild) criticism which Stendal could put right: Gills, 2 down, were still retreating into their own half.  Our defenders (Lindsay) don’t have to listen to idiot fans wanting the ball played forward quickly and therefore hoof it.  Let Gills come onto US.  They’re losing, the onus is on THEM to come out.  As it was, we simply gave them the ball too easily at times in the 2^nd half.  (Actually, Gills knew what they were doing; at one point 3 of them pressed on the halfway line and 2 quick short passes later, they had 5 men the wrong side of the ball.  They came to frustrate us, but the early goal meant they couldn’t even do that.)

Well done Reds – but there’ll be better teams than Gillingham coming to Oakwell this season.

Oh, and how can I tell it’s my opening game of the season?  That’s right, no home or away shirts available in my size.  The more things change…

Drink du jour: Corsican wheat beer, Erdinger (on tap!), Vodka and orange.  Jonesy and I polished off a whole bottle of vodka, and my head feels it today.  Journey back (train!) joined by Nice Guy Chris and The Captain (fresh from ticking off Blundell Park in his quest for the 92).

Onwards and upwards!

Away: 259. Looked more like 150.

The Damage:
£12.50 bus
£20 train
£3 prog
= £35.50

The Tunes:
Let England Shake (PJ Harvey)
Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (The Pop Will Eat Itself)

Panorama from the Ponty (cheers, Jonesy!)

Ballet in the Gills' box.

Home time.

The old Main Stand.

Looking towards the away end.

Mmmmmm....pork pies on Barnsley market.