Gillingham (A) Preview

7 September 2023

Town will be looking to take the momentum from their impressive showing in midweek when they make the long trip south this weekend to face Gillingham.

The 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest U21s kicked off their EFL Trophy campaign in fine style and they will be looking to put an end to a run of two successive defeats on the road in League Two.

Our opponents

The Gills ended the 2023/23 season, their first back in League 2 for a decade, in 17^th place having accrued 55 points. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story and it was very much a season of two halves with the side in relegation trouble heading into the turn of the year having struggled to find the back of the net on any sort of consistent basis.

The January window saw them bring in the likes of George Lapslie, Ollie Hawkins, Tom Nicholls and Timothee Dieng, with fortunes and results improving to see them ease clear of danger with games to spare.

Coming into this season they were touted as one of the promotion favourites and they currently sit in third position, having won four and lost two of their six games. Again, their defence has been the bedrock and they kept clean sheets in each of their victories, all by a 1-0 margin.

Last season

In mid-August Town came away from Priestfield Stadium with maximum points with Matty Daly striking in the first-half and Alex Pattison adding a second late on to secure a 2-0 win. The return fixture at The Envirovent Stadium was a goalless draw.

The man in charge

Neil Harris is now in his second season at the club, having initially been appointed in January 2022. He is most known for his association at Millwall, having made over 350 appearances for the club across two spells, also playing for Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest and Southend.

After a previous spell as caretaker manager, he was appointed on a permanent basis at Millwall in 2015, guiding the club to promotion to the Championship before resigning in 2019.

Harris then took the job at Cardiff City, finishing fifth in his first season and earning a spot in the playoffs. After a run of poor results the following season he departed in January 2021.

Ones to watch

Tom Nicholls is the creative hub for the side and he has assisted on two goals this season, whilst Timothee Dieng will also operate in a forward role behind the front man.

Ashely Nadesan, who arrived from Crawley in the summer, has struck twice this season and the club also added Macauley Bonne, the former Leyton Orient and Charlton forward to provide further options.

Another new arrival, Shadrach Ogie, signed from Leyton Orient, has settled in impressively in defence and Jonny Williams, previously at Swindon and a former Welsh international, arrived in the summer to bolster the midfield.

History

Gillingham joined the Football League in 1920, but just short of two decades later were voted out of the league in favour of Ipswich Town, returning to the Southern League.

They were voted back in in 1950 when the league expanded by four clubs, and almost reached the second tier in the 1980’s before reaching that level in the early 2000’s where they played for five seasons before suffering relegation.

The club bounced back to League One in 2013 where they remained for almost a decade, reaching a highest position of ninth, before dropping back to League Two at the end of the 2021/22 season.

The Gills have been managed by some notable names in recent times, including Andy Hessenthaler, Martin Allen, Peter Taylor and Tony Pulis.

Team news

Dean Cornelius remains unavailable through injury, but Simon Weaver will hope to have Jack Muldoon back in contention after he missed the midweek win in the EFL Trophy.

Toby Sims also made a successful return after an enforced concussion break and faces competition from Kayne Ramsay for the right back spot.

Jeremy Sivi was impressive on his debut in yellow and black on Tuesday night, though fellow deadline day arrival Josh March is not quite ready for action.

Meanwhile Luke Armstrong is registered for selection following Wrexham’s decision not to appeal the rejection of the striker’s transfer.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Gillingham 1-0 Town - Stoppage time goal denies Town a share of the points

9 September 2023

A late Shaun Williams strike proved to be the difference as Simon Weaver and his Harrogate Town side were narrowly defeated in this afternoon's trip to Gillingham.

While it took all of 94 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, a late scramble in the Town box proved pivotal with the Gillingham captain bundling home to secure all three points for his side.

With winger Sam Folarin requiring a lengthy spell of treatment, referee Neil Hair added 13 minutes of additional time at the end of the second half which Gillingham used to their advantage.

Clearly pleased by his side’s performance in mid-week, Town boss Simon Weaver elected for consistency in his eleven with nine of the starters keeping their place for the trip South.

Luke Armstrong returned to start for Town after a deadline day move to Wrexham fell through. Elsewhere, Kayne Ramsay was handed a start in place of Toby Sims and midfielder Levi Sutton was fit enough to return to the bench.

Three minutes were on the clock before Gillingham registered the first attempt of the match. Former Wales internationalist Jonny Williams looked to try his luck from distance. As a loose ball fell nicely around 25 yards from goal but the effort took a deflection and Town were able to clear their lines.

With both sides looking to adapt to the challenging conditions, it would be over 10 minutes later before the next serious chance would present itself. A pacy low cross from the Gillingham left found the head of Lapslie but he was unable to direct it goalwards.

Gillingham keen to crank up the pressure on the Town line found another opportunity shy of 20 minutes. A well worked passing move found Malone with space to shoot. However, a block from Kayne Ramsay sent it wide.

With temperatures reaching 32 degrees this afternoon, referee Neil Hair rightly gave the players an opportunity to take on fluids midway through both halves.

However, prior to this stoppage, some neat build up play created a fantastic crossing opportunity for Kayne Ramsay but an overhit cross allowed the danger to pass.

After the break, Town continued to grow into the game. A fantastic cross field pass was plucked out the sky by George Thomson. However, the resulting cutback doesn’t find anyone in the black of Town.

Despite the optimism, club captain Josh Falkingham was forced off the field following a tackle from Williams which the former Welsh international received the only yellow card of the half for. He was replaced by Levi Sutton and the first 45 ended without the deadlock being broken.

Town started the second half with the intent they ended the first with. Quick feet and a clever nutmeg from Odoh found Armstrong in the area and with his back to goal laid off Thomson but Town’s number 7 produced low side-footed effort which was held by the ‘keeper.

Gillingham quickly regained composure but on 60 minutes Town found luck once again on the right-hand side. A pin-point pass from George Thomson released the onrushing Folarin. However, his low cross evades the on-rushing Armstrong and the home side clear.

Three cautions in five minutes saw Kayne Ramsay booked for Town and he was joined by Williams & Masterson for the hosts.

After a lengthy stoppage to play, Town’s number 12 Sam Folarin was forced to depart the field in a stretcher and he was replaced by Jeremy Sivi for his league debut.

It was almost an instant impact for the Middlesborough loanee, a clever run from Town’s number 19 was spotted by Odoh but his pass was over cooked and Gillingham regained possession.

However, in the fourth minute of extra time, Gillingham got that all important goal to secure the three points. A corner swung into the Town box was met by Oxley but he was unable to get to safety and after a number of blocks club captain Shaun Williams got the ball across the line.

Simon Weaver’s side will look to get back to winning ways next weekend as we head to Bradford City for the Yorkshire Derby.