Joachim Double Saves A Point

By CCFC Sid
November 22 2003

Only hours after the awesome sporting spectacle that was England-Australia came CCFC v Gillingham - entertainment wise, as far apart as the gulf in class between Arsenal and Nuneaton Boro.

CCFC are unbeaten in six matches, though five of them have been draws, meaning CCFC are still closer to the bottom three than the top six. As with Bradford, Gillingham are the sort of side CCFC have to beat at home if they have serious designs on finishing in the top half of the table.

Gillingham had quite clearly came hoping for a point - with anything else being a bonus. Hopeful punts and time-wasting were just two of the tactics used to wind down the clock, but, having had only three shots in the second half, two of them resulting in goals, it has to be said that their tactics were effective. CCFC didn't particularly help themselves by insisting on playing high-balls towards Joachim, with the Gills' two central defenders winning the ball every time with ease.

Despite a low-price ticket offer not many of the `missing' fans bothered to visit Highfield Road, with only 13,432 passing through the turnstiles. Some of those that did turn up were so disappointed they actually left at half-time, and, when Gillingham went ahead, there was a huge surge towards the exits. After an 89 minute mauling away to Forest last season, that saw CCFC still leave with a point, CCFC fans should have known better....

The first half was fairly dire, though predicatably Gills' boss Andy Hessenthaler was booked, while Suffo missed a great chance to give CCFC the lead on the half hour. Wallace was stretchered off the pitch just before half-time after a (Fair!) Konjic challenge, and was unfortunately replaced by striker Tommy Johnson (Ex-Villa, rather than the `Viz' character of the same name). Suffo placed a shot just wide seconds before the whistle was blown, and, unsurprisingly, the teams left the field with the score 0-0.

The second half started with Doyle blasting over when in a decent position to give CCFC the lead. Minutes later Warnock did like-wise, with the Gills' keeper way off his line having missed a cross, but the efort wasn't even close to finding the target. Later in the second half CCFC fans blasted Warnock for another poor miss, but this only came about after Safri had yet again bottled any thoughts of actually having a shot himself.

Five times in fairly quick succession CCFC got the ball out to their right, with Gillingham's left midfield player being absolutely AWOL (Or maybe he just didn't come out after half-time?), leaving their left-back totally exposed.

The first time saw Pead in acres of space, lining himself up for a certain goal, only to hit a poor shot across the goal - but Joachim latched onto it and smashed the ball home. With better control, CCFC could have finished the game off in this five minute spell, but, as is so typical of CCFC, they didn't.

A good turn but very poor finish was Suffo's last contribution to the match, with Adebola replacing him after 71 minutes.

Ten minutes later Gillingham equalised with the simplest of `Route One' goals. Their keeper hit the ball straight down the middle of the pitch, and Tommy Johnson finished well.

After 84 minutes Gillingham took the lead, with another simple but effective move - not helped by Konjic conceding possession far to cheaply. Again, Johnson beat Ward, and another disappointing home result looked on the cards.

A great run and cross from Staunton on 87 minutes was cleared by a Gills' defender before Morrell could pounce, and deafeat looked on the cards before Joachim scored his second goal of the game - and the season!

The team were booed off the pitch, and Gary McAllister, on an interview on CWR after the match, said that the performance was `not good enough'. And so say all of us....