Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler saw two good goals cancel out his team's impressive showing at Swindon Town
The contrasting emotions of Gills boss Andy
Hessenthaler and the Swindon dugout after the hosts went ahead on
Tuesday
Picture: Barry Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Andy Hessenthaler bemoaned the “wonder strike”
which sent his team to defeat on Tuesday night.
Gillingham competed well against Swindon at
the County Ground but were undone by Matt Ritchie’s 80th-minute
goal. Another fine effort, from Jonathan Smith, rubber-stamped the
three points for the home side.
“It’s very disappointing to have lost and I
thought the performance was terrific,” said Gills manager
Hessenthaler.
“I couldn’t really have asked any more from
the boys. In the first half their keeper made a great save from
Whelpdale’s header, to tip it onto the bar. It dropped down and
they did their job and defended properly to stop Jo Kuffour from
scoring.
“Whelpdale also had a good strike in a good
area in the first half but there wasn’t much in it. Second half we
looked bright and took the game to them.
“Rooney, with the best bit of play in the
game, hit the post. If that goes in then all-of-a-sudden they are
chasing the game and it makes them a bit frustrated.
“In the end, ultimately, it was a wonder
strike from the lad Ritchie. He is a handful and we knew if he
comes inside he has a hell of a shot. Perhaps we should have done
better with the clearance, but he did what he did, and it was a
great strike.
“Sometimes they go in, sometimes they go over,
but that wonder strike has cost us the game.”
The Gills had good chances, with Whelpdale
hitting the bar with a header, before Rooney struck the post with a
shot. At 1-0 down substitute Danny Kedwell, who was back from
injury, missed an open goal from just a few yards out.
“He said it came across so quick from big
Frank and he said he didn’t see it,” said Hessenthaler. “He got it
tied up around his feet and that summed it up for us really.
Sometimes you need a little luck.
“It was a good performance, not the right
result, but more positives than negatives I felt.”
What do you think went wrong at
Swindon? Comment below.
25/10/11
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