FLEETWOOD v GILLS

[iblue]

Gills looking for their first away win this season with Fleetwood unbeaten at Highbury Stadium.

Gills starting line-up: Stephen Bywater, Gavin Hoyte, Leon Legge, Kortney Hause, John Egan, Joe Martin, Josh Pritchard, Doug Loft (captain), Michael Doughty, Danny Kedwell and Cody McDonald.
Stuart Nelson drops to the bench but I don’t think it has anything to do with the fact that new Fleetwood striker Tom Hitchcock put three past him at Priestfield last April when playing for Rotherham. Doug Loft back after suspension and Kortney Hause back in centre of defence.

Gills subs: Stuart Nelson, Matt Fish, Jake Hessenthaler, Jermaine McGlashan, Bradley Dack, Brennan Dickenson and Luke Norris.

Minutes silence observed before kick-off in honour of the fallen in World conflict.

First minute: Fleetwood score with Tom Hitchcock - poor clearance from Bywater and defence and Hitchcock scores his 4th this year into the Gills net

FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

[iblue]

FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

Fleet's goal came from a corner and the ball was not punched clear hard enough by Bywater and it fell at the feet of Hitchcock who was on edge of area. His shot was perfectly placed into the Gills net.

10 minutes: Gills looking a bit disjointed at the back and not a lot of movement from midfield with Kedwell & McDonald just observing the action at the moment. Fleetwood have the measure of Gills and with a team that has not lost at home it is looking a little bleak with a long afternoon facing Gills.

15 minutes: Plenty of shouted encouragement from Peter Taylor as at last Gills on the attack between Pritchard and McDonald who fired an effort wide. Fleetwood attack and Scott Dobbie shot from around 20 yards that went wide of Bywater's post.

17 minutes: Gills starting to show some creative stuff with Doug Loft down the right and crossed for Kedwell to head toward goal and forced a corner. Loft takes corner but Kortney Hause mis-timed his run at goal and the ball sailed over helped by a high swirling wind.

Gavin Hoyte playing well in midfield trying hard to get Gills moving forward. Fleetwood missed a great chance to increase their lead with a few players lining up to finish off a good move but Gills managed to put the ball out for a corner.

20 minutes: Fleetwood easily coping with Gills attacks and movements and still no sign of an equaliser as Danny Kedwell finds space but blasts well over the bar.

[iblue]

FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

25 minutes: Dobbie nearly in on goal as an under-hit back pass was just reached in time by Bywater. Nervous play by Gills as seconds later they allowed Dobbie to roll a great ball through to Evans but the Gills defence cleared just in time. Hitchcock nearly turns another chance into a goal after really poor defensive work by Bywater who must still be thinking about his poor clearance that has led to the first goal and nearly caused a second.

27 minutes: Fleetwood well on top with the Gills organisation in defence looking shaky and Hitchcock should have had another (possibly his hat-trick) as his shot hit Legge's foot and out for a corner. More steady play in front of goal and this game would already be beyond Gills. There appears no collective idea of who does what in defence. Peter Taylor looking very dejected on the touchline.

30 minutes: McDonald can only hope the ball comes to him as he is virtually a spectator in the game watching from afar. - watching and hoping. Loft and Martin combine, win a free-kick and crosses into area but the wind takes the ball well over and wide. Still no clear chance for Gills and to Gills fans standing in the Fleetwood cold wind, they are not likely to create any on this first half performance.

[iblue]

FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

33 minutes: Doug Loft powers a long shot effort that is on target but straight into goalie Maxwell's arms. Captain Loft putting himself about and really trying to get Gills going. He links well with Pritchard who shoots but fires just wide of the post. This is a bit better from Gills but they are still one goal adrift and not really using Kedwell or Cody who might as well be in the dressing room keeping warm.

40 minutes: Kedwell moves the ball well on the right and Loft and Pritchard combine to create a half-chance for Cody but it only results in a corner.

43 minutes: Dobbie forces a chance but good defending by Cody Mac (possibly trying to see if there is a ball in play and keep warm!) Gills looking much better in the last ten minutes and their best chance when a shot by Gavin Hoyte comes back off McDonald well inside the area but lucky Fleetwood goalie, Maxwell, just stops the ball creeping into the net.

Better from Gills in the last few minutes offering some hope for the second period but they have got to take advice from Peter Taylor and others to step up their performance if they want to get anything from this game. Sad to say but on this showing Gills looking like a bottom four side.

HALF TIME: FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

[iblue]

SECOND HALF: FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

Depressing statistic is that if this result stands - Gills will have 14 points and this time last season they had 18 - relegation looks a distinct possibility - still, only need one clear chance to score and things will look much better.

Fleetwood straight out of the blocks on the attack but Gills break it up and Joe Martin pushes the ball down the line for cody to chase but no end result.

50 minutes: Free-kick for Gills taken by Doughty but Fleetwood easily clear the danger. Peter Taylor (possibly fearing an outburst from Gills fans and others) is jumping around, waving his arms and shouting instructions from the dug-out.

52 minutes: Martin to Doughty and a good cross toward Cody that was pushed out for a corner by goalie Maxwell. The corner comes to nothing.

Must say that Gills are looking fresher and brighter at moment with Doughty , Loft and Pritchard combining well. Hopefully this will bring an equaliser as Fleetwood are pushed back.

55 minutes: Good leap for a header for Cody Mac at back post from a Loft cross but it was straight at Maxwell. Another Loft cross and this time Doughty forces a corner. Comes to nothing.

57 minutes: Boss Peter Taylor sends on speedy Jermaine McGlashan for Gavin Hoyte. Would have preferred Bradley Dack myself but what do I know...

First touch of the ball from McGlashan and it was a poor cross losing out and Fleetwood come clear with Evans who switch flanks to Hitchcock and thankfully his shot was wide of Bywater's post.

60 minutes: Fleetwood try a couple of shots in quick succession from long range and easily coped with by Gills defence.

Still FLEETWOOD 1 (Tom Hitchcock on 2 minutes) v GILLS 0

[iblue]

FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

62 minutes: Fleetwood free-kick but it was hit too far and easily captured by Bywater. Another corner for Fleetwood that created a clear header for Hughes that went over the Gills bar.

63 minutes: Neat header by Joe Martin at the far post that went just wide after another decent cross from Loft.

65 minutes: Peter Taylor makes two changes in an effort to get the equaliser but not with the full agreement of Gills fans as first Danny Kedwell is replaced by Luke Norris and Bradley Dack replaces Doug Loft.

70 minutes: A very good cross by Fleetwood's McLaughlin that gave Nathan Pond a good chance but he misses the target with a powerful header.

72 minutes: Fleetwood should have gone two up when a superb cross was fumbled by Bywater (who is not having a good game) at the feet of Morris and between him and Hitchcock they failed to get it in the net and Bywater gathered to save the day.

73 minutes: Fleetwood getting on top and Dobbie shoots a low ball across the face of goal but Evans falls with a lunge to connect and score with Bywater beaten.

Fleetwood make a substitution by taking the dangerous Dobbie off which will please the Gills defenders.

[iblue]

FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0 - Attendance: 2,951 (252 Gills fans)

74 minutes: A good run down the right from the Gills 'one trick pony' McGlashan and he sends a cross without any real power to the back post for Cody who had the ball taken off his head by goalie Maxwell.

76 minutes: Fleetwood should really have scored their second as substitute Sarcevic hit a great effort that looked a goal all the way until Bywater redeemed himself by moving well and making a good save.

Gills are trying hard but just not good enough to create clear chances to beat what is an ordinary Fleetwood side. It looks like one error in the first few minutes are going to cost Gills another defeat. However, in all honesty Gills are not a good side and will continue to struggle especially when they fail to involve the strikers for the vast majority of the game.

80>90 minutes: Scrappy play mostly in the midfield and Fleetwood are holding the ball up well - Three minutes of added time but Gills are well beaten in the game and drop further down the table. Disappointing performance and Peter Taylor plus Andy Hessenthaler don't appear to have much idea of how to arrest the decline as Gills have now gone eight away games without victory and only won once in eleven games.

Last second and John Egan shoots and Leon Legge just missed the far post with a shot.

FULL TIME: FLEETWOOD 1 v GILLS 0

[Deleted]

Many thanks iblue,Just wish you could rewrite and adjust, but here we go again.

[gillsjan]

Thank you good report as usual. Rather dire now

[muppet]

Thanks I-blue