Both goals were down to daft goalkeeping errors, and summed up the lack of invention from these two mid-table sides. Crewe had to fight to keep the score 1-1 at times, resulting yet again in a barrage of unjustified abuse from certain areas of the stadium.
Before the match, Crewe would have expected to beat a Gillingham who had only last week lost inspirational striker Marlon King to Nottingham Forest and had player-manager Andy Hessenthaler suspended.. However, we always seem to have a lapse against the so-called smaller clubs, and I for one was half expecting a slip up from the Alex.
Crewe manager Dario Gradi had only one enforced change to make from last week, as David Vaughan was ruled out with a knee injury, so Kenny Lunt made his first start since the corresponding clash at the Priestfield in November. Here was the team:
INCE
LUNT COCHRANE B.JONES RIX
ASHTON S.JONES
Subs: BANKOLE, WALKER, MOSES, VARNEY, SMART
The game began somewhat evenly, although Gillingham could argue that they had us on the back foot early on, with top-scorer Paul Shaw causing a few minor problems, but generally coming to nothing. Steve Foster’s attempted back header was too weak to reach keeper Clayton Ince, and with Kevin James hot on his heels, Anthony Tonkin proved his worth with a timely last ditch block.
Dean Ashton had an early chance to open the scoring after Ben Rix’s visionary pass found him one-on-one with Brown, but the revitalised nineteen-year old misjudged the situation and it harmlessly ran out into touch.
After 11 minutes, Crewe took the lead through Steve Jones’ great finish after Gill’s keeper Brown made a pig’s ear of a textbook cross into his area. David Wright’s free kick was floating easily into his grasp, and under very little pressure, he pathetically punched towards Jonah, who was happy to oblige by firmly striking the ball into the Railway end net. That’s goal number nine for our Derry Dasher this season.
Dean had a chance to make it two with a drive that somehow flew over the crossbar from only ten yards, but after the great from he has shown over the last few weeks, he was bound to have ‘one of those days’ soon enough. It was just his luck that it happened at home where the crowd refuse to get off his back for anything and everything.
Gillingham right back Nyran Nosworthy had an excellent game for the visitors, and he was the biggest threat that they possessed in the first half as they found themselves devoid of ideas and lacking in creativity. Clayton had to make a smart save low to his right after Nosworhty had centred to James, who let go a fierce strike from eighteen yards.
Crewe skipper David Wright also had a good game for the home side, always at hand to make raiding runs down the right flank and put in telling crosses. He almost found Ulsterman Jones with a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, but the Kent side’s Ian Cox was at hand to stop us doubling the lead.
In defence, both Foster and McCready had dependable games, and were not really troubled by the visitors right through the first half. Chris has had a wretched time in his Alex career, always seemingly way down in the pecking order and being setback by injury. He hasn’t really had the chance to show the fans what he can do for us, but the coaching staff have always held him in high regard. This season it seemed to be going the same way for him, but it has been a sound decision by Dario to play him, and he has the chance to be a regular now, with Adie and Doorman only on the bench. I’m really pleased for him because he has never let his head drop.
Back to the game. Paul Shaw and Kevin James had half chances, but they ended in nothing, and the railwaymen had been only been lukewarm as the first half drew to a close.
Second Half
Andy Hessenthaler’s half time team talk obviously spurred on his defiant side as within a few minutes of the restart, the Alex found themselves pegged back to 1-1. David Perpetuini’s long-range shot fooled the usually reliable home keeper to the disbelief of the home crowd. One would have expected the Caribbean stopper to make an effort to save the strike, but he simply stood there flat-footed and watched it hit the back of the net. Clayton obviously knew he should have stopped it judging by his embarrassed reaction following the goal. It reminded me of Ben Doane’s long-range goal at home to Sheffield United in the 2-2 draw in 2001-02. Ince was simply fooled by it.
Ben Rix (injured with a broken toe) was replaced by Richard Walker shortly after, making the boss order a re-shuffle, so the defence looked like this from right to left: McCready, Walker, Foster, Wright. Tonks moved up to left midfield, where he looked pretty stranded at times.
The goal was certainly a turning point in the match as the away side turned up the pressure on Ince’s goal, in particular target man Mamady Sidibe, who continually ruffled up Foz throughout the second half. As a caller on Radio Stoke pointed out – it was the first time he has been so troubled by a striker for a long, long time. However, his finishing wasn’t up to scratch, and twice fluffed great chances into the hands of Ince.
Deano could have scored a couple, but he just didn’t find that little spark today that makes him a 'prince among men' on his day. He looked a little tired, and he summed up the team really – not all there. The effort was there but his touch wasn’t and the flak he received was sickening. Dean was yet again singled out even though Justin Cochrane and Bily Jones had poor games. Every touch of the ball was greeted with a barrage of abuse, and the guy behind me even had the nerve to call Dario an ‘old, pathetic p***k’. Where do these idiots come from?
Gillingham continued their onslaught onto the Alex goal, but little materialised for the visitors except for Paul Shaw’s late effort that sailed wide.
Late on, Walker was taken off on the stretcher with an ankle injury that looked serious, but Dario later allayed our fears by revealing the stretcher was unneeded and Walker was embarrassingly walking in the changing room after the injury.
Dean could have won it with a speculative effort late on when he spotted Brown off his line, but it was a tricky chance. At least he had the nerve to try it though.
Gillingham will be more pleased with the score line bearing in mind their less than impressive away form, but we were nothing above average today. Some fans are seeing this as an unacceptable performance, but the truth is that Gillingham are a very hard side to play against, and our excellent home form is still going. A point at home is certainly not the end of the world.
My man of the match was either the tireless Jones or the extremely dependable Chris McCready in defence.