Gillingham 0 Tranmere Rovers 1
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by Alex Hoad
Gillingham dropped into the League 1 relegation zone following
an abject home defeat to Tranmere at Priestfield on Tuesday as
the pressure mounted on boss Mark Stimson.
Gills’ scoreless run extended to 416 minutes as they lost to a
team who had only won one away game this season and scored just
seven goals on the road.
A chorus of boos cascaded from around Priestfield after Ian
Thomas-Moore slid in at the far post to finish from a yard after a
monumental goalmouth scramble on 67 minutes.
After Paul McClaren’s free-kick from the right was not cleared,
Craig Curran hit the inside of the post and Gills keeper Alan
Julian produced two fine blocks on the line before the ball was
finally bundled into the net to send the 104 travelling fans
wild.
Within seconds Stimson was the target of some choice chants from
the Rainham End before replacing Luke Rooney with Dennis Oli – who
had been waiting to enter the field when the goal was scored.
The boos grew to a crescendo less than a minute later when
Stimson hauled-off Mark Bentley for Adam Miller.
Tranmere had grown in stature throughout then second half and
first-half substitute Gareth Edds had tested Julian twice in three
minutes shortly before the hour.
Firstly he drew a smart save from Julian with a turn on the
swivel after the Gills failed to cut-out a cross from the left and
moments later more defensive hesitancy saw Edds get above Josh
Gowling at the far post but his point-blank header was tipped into
the air before being scrambled away.
Dennis Oli had a chance to level in the final minute but after
chesting down a ball from the right he miscued his attempt over the
bar and in the third minute of stoppage time Josh Gowling blazed
over from close range after the ball fell to him from Oli.
It summed up the Gills evening that two of their best chances
fell to left-back Chris Palmer.
He stung Luke Daniels’ palms with a first-half drive and fired
inches wide of the bottom right corner on 72 minutes.
The closest the Gills came was Luke Rooney rattling the bar from
the edge of the box after Andy Barcham had turned Rovers right-back
Shaleum Logan inside-out down the left and fizzed a low ball across
the face of goal.
Gills:
Julian, Fuller, Gowling, Dennehy, Palmer, Bentley
(Miller 70mins), Weston (Walker
83mins), Jackman, Barcham, Rooney (Oli
67mins), Jackson. Subs not
used: Royce, Maher, Wynter, Payne.
Tuesday, February 09 2010
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