Gillingham’s miserable November hit new depths on Saturday as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat by bottom club Crewe Alexandra as yet again Steve Evans’ wafer thin squad was stretched to breaking point as the Gills missed out on a hat-trick of wins at Gresty Road.
A goal after just eleven minutes and a second in injury time sealed just the home side’s second League win of the season, but Gillingham’s afternoon was summed up by an amazing sequence just before half time.
Trailing to Chris Long’s early strike, home keeper Luke Offord was denied a fantastic own goal by keeper Dave Richards before Jack Tucker’s header from the corner did beat Richards but crashed off the frame of the Crewe goal.
First half sub-Harvey Lintott was denied a goal after the break when his header too beat the Crewe keeper, but it too was kept out by the frame of the Crewe goal! It really wasn’t the Gills day as the winless run was stretched to seven in all competitions…
It didn’t start too well as the Gills boss again couldn’t fill the bench – Sam Gale becoming the latest youngster to be given an unexpected chance – but Evans did have some good news as Robbie McKenzie returned to the starting line-up following the midweek Cup exit at Cheltenham Town.
Gills keeper Jamie Cumming has excelled this season but the Chelsea loanee will be annoyed with himself for Crewe’s first goal as he seemed deceived by Rio Adebisi’s cross and as the ball found its’ way to Scott Kashket, whose first time ball across the face of goal was hammered high into the net by Long.
Cumming then restored “normal” service to deny Kashket after Long turned provider – the Gills stopper making an excellent save to keep out a good shot – before at the other end John Akinde went close from Bailey Akehurst’s corner.
Gillingham rallied well towards the end of the opening half, and the home side’s goal then led the charmed life of Richards’ magnificent save from his own defender and Tucker’s header hitting the woodwork, and the balance of play continued after the break and Lintott was so unlucky to see his header (from Dan Adshead’s flag kick) loop onto the post.
Try as they might, Gillingham just could get back into the game and with the contest stretched going into stoppage time, Lowery was on the end of a good passing move to beat Cumming albeit in off a post.
The bedraggled Gills return home for midweek action against Cheltenham Town (for the third time this season) – this defeat leaving them in the last “safe” place in the table, and with speculation over Steve Evans’ tenure at Priestfield certain to rise still further after this defeat, Tuesday suddenly potentially becomes a really big day in the club’s recent history…
CREWE ALEXANDRA – Richards, Adebisi, Williams, Offord, Long (Mandron 82), Lowery, Porter, Murphy, Gomes (Finney H/T), Sass-Davies, Kashket (Thomas 94).
Subs not used – Griffiths, Jaaskelainen, Knight, McFadzean.
Goals: Long (11), Lowery (91).
Booked: Offord (68).
GILLINGHAM – Cumming, Jackson, Ehmer, Tucker, Akehurst (Lintott 36), O’Keefe, Phillips, Adshead (Carayol 70), McKenzie (Gbode 83), Sithole, Akinde.
Subs not used – Chapman, Gale.
Booked: O’Keefe (47), Phillips (61).
REFEREE – Mr Anthony Backhouse
Attendance: 4,047 (Gills).
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC