Bristol Rovers 2 v Gills 1 (Barcham)
Strong winds and incessant torrential rain swept across the Memorial ground all afternoon making life difficult for both teams. There were few clear-cut chances for both sets of players with Bristol Rovers just deserving of the win.
Saturday 21 November - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace
The Gills looked likely to secure only their second point outside of Priestfield but were denied this rare pleasure when Matt Fry inexplicably handed while on the ground in the box to give Rovers a 80th minute penalty.
The spot kick was dispatched into the bottom corner of Simon Royce’s net with the Gills keeper going the wrong way. It was a cruel end to a spirited, but ultimately fruitless, Gills performance in dire conditions on a saturated ski slope of a pitch.
Manager Mark Stimson (left) kept faith with most of the side that gained all three points against Oldham the previous week including captain Barry Fuller at the expense of John Nutter and leaving top scorer Simeon Jackson on the bench.
Rovers had much the better of play from the start playing with the wind behind them and kicking up the slope toward their favourite end and they pressured to gain the advantage. Several shots were off target by Dickson and the lively Kuffour or were comfortably held by Simon Royce until the 17th minute.
Gills recent transfer target, Chris Dickson let fly with an overhead kick from around ten yards only for Simon Royce, who had an excellent game, make a save to his left. However the ball ran loose and Gills failed to clear as it was played back across the goal for Lines to calmly side foot home from close range.
The Gills looked and played without any real purpose and were certainly ineffective as a strike force. Their passing throughout the game was woeful at times, wayward and with little or no purpose that couldn’t just be put down to the windy conditions. The ball was cleared often from Rovers advances only for it to come straight back into the Gills danger areas.
Against the run of play, with the game drifting toward half time, Gills equalized with a superb piece of skill from Andy Barcham (pictured right) on 40 minutes.
Running onto a loose ball and beating his man Andy lifted the ball over defenders and the Rovers keeper into the top corner of the net. It was possibly the only real effort on target from the Gills in the first 45 minutes.
With the game level it was really up to the Gills to push home any advantage early in the second half. They failed to do this with little or no creativity from their midfield and Rovers gradually came back strongly into the game.
Mark Stimson then brought Gills leading scorer Simeon Jackson on for the final 25 minutes replacing Curtis Weston. This was possibly a mistake as Gills had the lively Febian Brandy to score goals if only he was supplied with the killer pass. On reflection it would have been better if Jack Payne had come on to bolster and supplement the Gills midfield creative unit.
Rovers continued to have the better of the limited chances and Duffy should have scored after being played through by Kuffour, but a poor first touch allowed Simon Royce time to save at his feet only yards from goal.
The pressure on Gills defence increased as Rovers were having the better of play kicking down the slope and Gills were continually clearing the ball only for it to come sailing back mostly on the right.
With less than ten minutes remaining a long through ball into the Gills penalty area, chased by Rovers and seemingly covered by Matt Fry (pictured right), held up in the wind and soggy pitch.
Matt found himself under pressure.
He tried to cover the ball out for a goal kick but went down on his side with the ball invitingly there for a Rovers cross. Inexplicably Matt reached out and grabbed the ball – the assistant referee, only yards away, signaled a penalty.
Matt Fry protested he was fouled but the penalty stood.
Bristol Rovers main penalty taker, Jeff Hughes, slammed the spot kick into the bottom left hand corner with Simon Royce going the wrong way. That goal proved enough as the appalling Gills away day blues continued.
With five minutes of stoppage time there was some slim hope of another Gills equalizer but despite pressure from the Gills attack in these closing minutes plus Simeon Jackson going close with a shot that was blocked on the Rovers line – yet another defeat on the road was the result.
Only one point from the 27 available is enough to make grown men weep and it has been known for managers to be sacked for less.
Gills: Simon Royce; Barry Fuller; Josh Gowling; Matt Fry; Stuart Lewis; Kevin Maher; Mark Bentley; Chris Palmer; Curtis Weston (Simeon Jackson 65mins); Andy Barcham; Febian Brandy (McCammon 79mins).
Subs not used: Alan Julian; John Nutter; Dennis Oli; Luke Rooney and Jack Payne.
Attendance: 6,210.