Sunday 11 March 2018

Portsmouth 1 Gillingham 3

SkyBet League One, Saturday 10th March 2018



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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