Gillingham 0 Bradford City 0
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by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham were held on home turf by lowly Bradford City on
Saturday.
Neither team managed to find a breakthrough at Priestfield and
the Gills were unable to replicate their impressive FA Cup
form.
Home striker Jo Kuffour hit the post with less than two minutes
gone but goal-scoring opportunities were extremely limited for the
home side in the first 45 minutes.
They were facing a side without a win on their travels this
season but they were more than a match for the Gills in the opening
half.
Bradford should have scored just before the half hour mark but
striker James Hanson’s close-range header was saved instinctively
by Gills keeper Ross Flitney. Hanson smashed the follow-up over the
bar with the goal gaping.
The same player glanced a header wide moments later as Bradford
continued to threaten.
Gills’ best moments were coming down their right flank where
Frank Nouble was giving full-back Marcel Seip a torrid time.
Despite his efforts the half ended goalless with Kuffour’s early
acrobatic shot the closest the home side had come to scoring.
Gillingham had started the game with three forwards, along with
Curtis Weston who was offering support, but changed things around
at the break as they left just Danny Kedwell and Kuffour in
attack.
Bradford remained dangerous after the turnaround with winger
Kyel Reid causing problems. With an hour gone it was still goalless
and the closest Gills had come in the second half was a deflected
shot from Weston which went wide.
The Gills had won with a stylish display in the FA Cup against
Bournemouth days before but were struggling to gain control against
the side which started the afternoon third from bottom in League 2.
There were few highlights for the season's best crowd to get
excited about.
Kuffour had the ball at his feet in the box, after Weston nodded
down Kedwell’s cross, but after turning and shooting he found
keeper Jon McLaughlin in his way. At the other end, with 20 minutes
left, Craig Fagan blasted a shot wide.
Gillingham were let off the hook with 15 minutes left as the
linesman’s flag denied substitute Nahki Wells a goal as he
side-footed home Reid’s cross. The off-side verdict kept things
level. The same player put the ball into the side netting with
seven minutes left.
A frantic finish saw chances at both ends in the final minute
and Gillingham came agonisingly close to scoring, with Stefan Payne
shooting across the face of the goal. The slightest of touches
would have put it in but Bradford hacked it away.
Gillingham: Flitney, Lawrence, Martin,
Frampton, Richards, J Payne, Lee, Weston, Nouble (S Payne 84mins),
Kuffour, Kedwell (Montrose 79mins). Subs: Oli, Fish, Gazzaniga.
Bradford: McLaughlin, Seip, Ramsden, Davies,
Oliver, Hanson, Hannah (Wells 71mins), Flynn Ravenhill, Reid,
Fagan. Subs: Mitchell, Moore, Duke, Devitt.
Attendance: 7,074
Picture by Barry Goodwin: Garry Richards gets
up high for a challenge
What did you make of the Gills' display in front of a
bumper Priestfield crowd?
Tell us what you think by leaving a comment
below.
Saturday, November 26 2011
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