Match Reports
Gillingham Reserves 5-1 Eastbourne Borough
Published by Ben Curtis on February 3, 2010
A devastating four-goal display from Mark McCammon and a decent finish from Adam Miller ensured Gillingham won at a canter against Eastbourne Borough this afternoon. A goalkeeping error by Simon Royce was the only blot on the team’s performance, helping striker Ross Treleavan give Borough the lead, but McCammon’s first-half hatrick and Miller’s 31st minute goal meant the game was all but won at half-time. McCammon’s fourth ten minutes into the second half extinguished any doubts, leading Gillingham to their biggest reserve win of the season.
With the injury list now starting to clear, Mark Stimson was able to name arguably the strongest second-team of his managerial reign including nine first-team players. The midfield of Rashid Yussuff, Danny Jackman, Stuart Lewis and Adam Miller started in a diamond shape – Miller pushing forward and Jackman and Lewis alternating in front of defence – and this allowed Chris Palmer at right-back and John Nutter at left-back to push forward and cause problems. It was Palmer who created the first chance for Gillingham – his inswinging cross from the right evaded McCammon, Dennis Oli, Borough goalkeeper Michael Jordan and the far post and went out for a goal kick. Jordan was forced into a decent save four minutes later, turning Lewis’ curling shot around the post.
Promising early signs, but a poor goalkeeping mistake meant Borough were the first to find the net – Royce was caught in possession by Treleavan who tackled him and passed into an empty goal. Gillingham responded immediately, however, Lewis battled through the defence and dragged it back for McCammon to tap in. From then on Gillingham dominated – just before the half-hour mark, Jackman played a delightful ball into McCammon who blasted the ball past Jordon from 20 yards to put the Gills into the lead. Two minutes later Miller played a one-two with McCammon and drove the ball in off the post. McCammon almost scored his third two just after, lobbing just wide, but a 40-yard ball from Palmer and a decent finish shortly after, left the big striker with a 37-minute hatrick. A quite brilliant response to doubters – myself included – regardless of the quality of opposition.
Stuart Lewis – who was superb throughout – forced Jordan to tip-over after Oli had pulled it back and, with a minute remaining in the half, clipped the ball just wide. After the break, Miller’s shot was deflected in by McCammon for his fourth and Miller again curled one wide two minutes later. A double substitution on the hour mark – Yussuff for Dean Rance and Oli for Gavin Grant (the former Gillingham player) – took the sting out of Gillingham’s flowing, attacking play. McCammon was substituted 20 minutes later – to a round of applause from the splattering of supporters – and Grant almost made it six in the last 10 minutes, but his shot hit the inside of the post and bounced out.
A decent display from all – including young centre-backs Callum Davies and Connor Essam – will have pleased Stimson as he prepares for three important games in the next 10 days. Importantly, the team played the kind of passing football that has defined the best first-team performances in Stimson’s time at the club – he can only hope that this positive frame of mind, and decent result, can transfer through the squad in time for the Brentford game on Saturday.
Ben Curtis
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