Gills Match Reports

Gills 1 (Luke Rooney pen) v Heart of Midlothian 2

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:11:47 +0100

Gills in their new strip (pictured left) looked inventive and lively for most of the game and took the lead in this pre-season friendly against Scottish Premier League Hearts but eventually lost by virtue of two well-taken goals from the visitors.

Gills were quick out of the blocks and had the better of the first half exchanges with a team that Hess might be thinking is the nucleus of the side that could start the League Two campaign against Cheltenham.

Concord Rangers 2 v Gills 0

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:54:38 +0100

Canvey Island based Concord Rangers had played three won three of their pre-season friendlies, impressively scoring eleven times without conceding a goal, before coming up against a Gills XI who had won their last five.

In this match, Concord showed more enterprise and determination and deservedly improved their pre-season record to four wins in four played and still not conceding as they beat a poor Gills team effort by two goal to zip.

Ebbsfleet United 1 v Gills 2 (Chris Palmer, Stefan Payne)

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:42:07 +0100

This was the seventh game in Gills pre-season calendar, a visit to near neighbours Ebbsfleet United, and another competent display by the improving Gills under manager Andy Hessenthaler.

This 1-2 away victory was hard earned against a hard working Ebbsfleet side that battled throughout and dominated the majority of the second half. Ultimately Gills had that little extra and finished the job with a well-worked goal.

Bishops Stortford 1 v Gills 4 (Rooney 3 (1 pen), Norville)

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:34:08 +0100

Luke Rooney (left) scored a hat trick in Gills 4-1 win against Bishops Stortford as he continued his impressive form in the pre-season games.

Andy Hessenthaler promised that Gills squad players would get 90 minutes on the pitch over the two games scheduled for this weekend against Bishops Stortford and Ebbsfleet.

Gills 4 (Palmer, Barcham, White, Rooney) v Peterborough 1

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:45:50 +0100

Gills produced a slick, and at times, exciting quick passing performance to easily beat a Peterborough side that was clearly second string but did include Rene Howe who was on loan to Gills last season.

The small 1,064 crowd, spread out in the Medway Stand, cheered loud and clapped long as the returning Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler walked to the dug out for his first match at Priestfield since 2004.

RUFC Calais 0 v Gills 4 (Rooney, Payne, Palmer & Oli)

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:41:30 +0100

Gills comfortably beat RUFC Calais this afternoon to record their second away win in succession. Three first half goals from Luke Rooney, Stefan Payne and Chris Palmer put Gills in a commanding position and an early second half strike from Dennis Oli made the victory complete.

Many of the Gills fans who made the short trip across the English Channel to the Stade Juilen Denis were left wondering whether the pre-season friendly with Calais RUFC would actually go ahead after our opponents failed to show up by 3.00 pm local time.

Dartford 1 v Gills 2

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:16:14 +0100

Gills got back to winning ways with a good all round performance in their pre-season friendly at Princes Park. Josh Gowling and trialist Tony Sinclair looked solid in the centre of defence with trialist keeper Lance Cronin also in confident mood throughout.

Wycombe Wanderers 3 v Gills 0

Sat, 8 May 2010 18:34:05 +0100

This was one of the worst displays Gills have served up this season and it came combined with other results at the worst possible time relegating them into League Two for the second time in three seasons.

“Homer” Stimson’s Gills teams have made twenty-three away trips and returned twenty three times without a win. The dismal haul of just six points collected out of 69 on offer has undoubtedly contributed to their drop into the abyss of League Two.

Gills did not compete in this crucial game and were well beaten by a Wycombe side already relegated themselves and boasting the second worst home record in the League. They thumped a sorry Gills team 3-0 to record their biggest home victory this season in front of 7.110 which included around 2.300 Gills supporters.

Gills 2 (Rene Howe, Josh Gowling) v Southampton 1

Sat, 1 May 2010 09:24:30 +0100

Gills were at their magnificent best this afternoon, pumped up and battling for a valuable 2-1 win in their fight against relegation to League Two. Southampton suffered their first loss in 11 games to a Gills side, which at times played some delightful and determined football to beat the form team of League One.

Gills manager delighted the Priestfield crowd by naming an attacking formation including top scorer Simeon Jackson (right) alongside Dennis Oli and Rene Howe.

The midfield also looked stronger with Adam Miller, Curtis Weston and Andy Barcham. Danny Jackman was dropped to the bench and Josh Gowling came into the side replacing Darren Dennehy who had returned to Cardiff.

Norwich City 2 v Gills 0

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:15:51 +0100

Well, it was to be expected, another loss on the road in this their penultimate away game against the best home form team in the League and Champions at that.

However for three-quarters of this game Gills showed just what they can do and for a period in the second half they looked the most likely to score but missed good chances to take something from the game.

With better finishing it could have been all so different instead of Gills dropping to 20th position in the League with just a two point cushion between them and the relegation places.

It makes for a tense finish to the season and a critical home match against Southampton next Saturday where points are a must.

Gills 3 (Miller, Bentley, o.g.) v Leeds United 2

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 08:01:19 +0100

Brilliant Gills stunned automatic promotion hopefuls Leeds United with a hard working and solid all round team performance earning three valuable points in their fight for League One survival.

Three goals without reply inside the first 34 minutes from the in-form Adam Miller (right) and the eventual Man of the Match, Mark Bentley (left) plus an own goal had the Priestfield crowd on cloud nine.

Leeds arrived on the back of three successive wins but never showed their undoubted class as Gills outplayed and overwhelmed them in a great first half.

Gills 1 (Adam Miller) v Brighton 1

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:48:22 +0100

This was the most one-sided draw seen at Priestfield for many a year. Gills were lucky to come away with a valuable point in their fight to avoid the drop into League Two. Andrew Crofts returned as captain of the Seagulls and received warm generous applause from the 7,977 crowd.

Millwall 4 v Gills 0

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:36:37 +0100

Gills failed in their 21st attempt to win away this season culminating in a disastrous 4-0 thumping defeat at the hands of an in-form Millwall.

This is the fifth 4-goal beating Gills have suffered on the road and they were woeful from start to finish. Mark Stimson, as manager, chief selector and motivator must take the majority of the blame in what now is becoming an embarrassment and a League One joke as Gills continue to lose away from the comforts of home.

Gills did have an excuse of sorts losing both their central defenders, Darren Dennehy who suffered a facial injury, and within five minutes of the second half Garry Richards was stretchered off following a collision with Gills keeper Alan Julian.

Gills 3 (Oli, Howe, Barcham) v Southend United 0

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 03:52:09 +0100

With Gills failing to win away they have to rely on their excellent home form this season to try and keep them in League One and yesterday they did just that.

Gills beat fellow relegation candidates Southend United convincingly enough although the Priestfield crowd had to wait until the second half before the three goals went in. However, it has to be said that the Shrimpers looked a very sorry and poor outfit indeed.

Oldham Athletic 1 v Gills 0

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 04:38:18 +0100

Gills dreadful away record this season and indeed their entire League One history of not achieving three points on their travels, continued with yet another defeat, this time at fellow strugglers Oldham Athletic.

This was Gills 20th attempt at winning an away game this campaign. A game that was a definite six-pointer given the close proximity of both clubs to the bottom four.

Gills are a sad outfit on the road and this game showed all their faults in a lack of punch in attack, lapses of concentration and a real lack of resolve to solve their lack of success away from Priestfield.

As a League One manager Mark Stimson (left) appears not to be able to put out and motivate a winning away team having only won twice in all of Gills League One games that he has been in charge of over two seasons.

Gills 2 (Adam Miller, Andy Barcham) v MK Dons 2

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:49:01 +0000

Potentially this should have been a great match, full of incident, goals and a spirited display by the Gills with perhaps all three points at the end.

Instead it turned into a bad tempered affair spoilt by the referee who ruined it as a spectacle when he first unjustly booked Dennis Oli (right) and then sent him off just before half-time for a second offence.

Charlton Athletic 2 v Gills 2 (Andy Barcham, Dennis Oli)

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:42:41 +0000

The last time Gills were at the Valley (and it didn’t look like it does today, left) to play Charlton in a league match was in May 1981 and nearly 3,000 Gills fans in a crowd of 20,004 were there today for another rare encounter.

The Gills were trying at the 19th attempt this season to win away from Priestfield but the search for the three points continues after a lively match where the Gills could have taken full advantage of Charlton’s recent poor form.

Stockport County 0 v Gills 0

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:16:47 +0000

Mark Stimson named an unchanged side for the visit to Edgeley Park against a Stockport side that have only won twice at home and have always conceded at least one goal.

Points away from Priestfield have been hard to come by this season with just a miserly four gained from a possible 51 but hopes were high with Stockport who possessed the worst defence and the worst home record in League One.

In the final analysis the Gills were found wanting in goal attempts, poor defending at times, woeful attempts at set-pieces and no real desire to push for the win and three points.

Gills 2 (Simeon Jackson 2) v Huddersfield Town 0

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 20:28:03 +0000

Make no mistake this was a fine all-round display both in attack and defence by the Gills and they thoroughly deserved their victory and the three valuable points gained in their fight against relegation. This was possibly their best display at home this season against a very strong side pushing for promotion.