Two Lee Martin goals plus one from Conor Wilkinson saw
Gillingham turn this match around in the second period to defeat Portsmouth at
Fratton Park and pick up a welcome three points in the process.
The hosts were going through a poor run of form lately and
came into this game in 11th, still within striking distance of the
playoffs though, whilst The Gills were in s similar run of form themselves and
sat one place behind Pompey knowing a win would take them above the home side.
A decent atmosphere awaited both sides prior to kick off and
the hosts went close early on when Ben Close struck a long range effort wide of
the visitors goal, before the visitors ball into the hosts box caused problems
down the other end, however keeper Luke McGee was awarded a free-kick to advert
the danger.
Moments later Pompey went close when a good ball into the
near post from Anton Walkes saw Jamal Lowe nod over from close range, before
Kal Naismith then let fly from thirty yards out and saw his effort flash inches
past the post on the quarter hour mark.
However the hosts did grab the lead in the 19th
minute as after Dion Donohue and Naismith had combined to slip the ball to
Lowe, the latter managed to find space to slam a brilliant effort into the roof
of the net and the hosts had a deserved lead in this one.
And eight minutes later Lowe had a terrific chance to double
Pompey’s lead when he was sent through on goal by Naismith, but he took too
much time seizing up the opportunity and Luke O’Neill got back to make a fine
tackle to avert the danger, but it was a great chance for the hosts to take
complete control of this one.
The hosts continued to be the better side in the first half
though, showing great energy and commitment, which the home crowd certainly appreciated,
and six minutes before the break Lowe, who had had a great half, beat his man
and handed the baton onto Naismith who could only blaze his effort high over
the bar.
Naismith then had another effort at the visitors goal late
in the half, but saw it go straight at Tomas Holy, however the half time
whistle brought a standing ovation for the hosts, who had been brilliant in the
first forty five, and had a lead to take into the second half although it could
have been more.
Half Time Portsmouth 1 Gillingham 0
Whatever was said in the visitors dressing at half time
galvanized the Gills, as they came out with much more purpose. No doubt the home side were told to just
keep doing what they had been doing and don’t concede an early goal in the second
period.
Well The Gills brought on ex-Pompey loanee Conor Wilkinson
at half time and two and a half minutes into the half he brought his side level
in terrific fashion, beating a couple of defenders before producing an expert
finish into the bottom corner, and you felt the momentum had suddenly shifted
towards the visitors.
The 1,551 Gills fans behind the goal, who had been largely
quiet for the first half, were now dancing around and fancied their team to go
on and turn this one around. The
majority of the 18,247 however were thinking here we go again, and were hoping
the hosts could whether this early second half storm from the Gills.
And in the 58th minute the hosts so nearly
re-took the lead when after winning a free-kick just outside the box, Connor
Rohan took a quick one and saw his effort thump against the post with keeper
Holy totally beaten. It was a pivotal
moment in the game as I felt that if Pompey had retaken the lead, they could of
gone on and won this game.
However just eight minutes later it was the Gills who took
the lead to turn this game around as a cross from Martin evaded everyone inside
the box and saw an unsighted McGee palm the ball into the corner of the net and
send the large Gills contingent behind the goal into raptures again.
The home fans could not believe it, their team looked so
good in the first half but were now chasing the game, and with eighteen minutes
left saw Close fire a twenty-five yarder just off target as the hosts
desperately tried to find a leveller.
But it got worse for the hosts and even better for the Gills with ten minutes to go when Martin picked the ball up outside the box and curled a wonderful effort
beyond McGee and cue a mass exodus of Pompey fans who had seen enough. It had looked so good for the hosts at half
time but this second half had been a disaster for them and they were heading
for another home defeat.
The hosts huffed and puffed to try and get back into the
game, but the visiting defence held firm and the frustration in and around
Fratton Park was for all to see and hear, they were not happy with what they
had seen second half with many questioning the manager and the owners.
Wilkinson almost rubbed salt into the already gaping Pompey
wounds in stoppage time, seeing his angled drive saved by McGee, however the
full time whistle was met by boos from the home support who were left in the
stadium, and their poor run of form continues, whilst the win for Gillingham
sees them go above Pompey into 11th.
It was most certainly a game of two halves that’s for sure,
however both sides still are within striking distance of the playoffs so all is
not lost yet. But you feel the hosts
need a win desperately to restore confidence after this second half would have
no doubt drained any they had gained in the opening forty-five minutes. Time to stick together again, just like they have done throughout the dark times over the last few years.
Full Time Portsmouth 1 Gillingham 3
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