Gills v U’s match report
Joe Dunne made a return to the Priestfield stadium this weekend as his U’s side travelled to Gillingham for the opening day of the 2013/14 season. The Irishman started his career at the Kent club and was given a warm reception as he took to the field prior to kick off.
Martin Allen had done the U’s team talk for them, describing the Gills as a much, much bigger club than the U’s and further commented that he knew nothing about Colchester, but proceeded to confirm that he knew the players, how we play and how we’d line up. I knew Allen was a bit strange, but these comments took the biscuit. If ever there was mind games gone wrong, this was it.
The U’s had to stand up to a barrage of one-dimensional, typical Martin Allen football, with the football team prevailing to claim the points late in the game.
Colchester lined up how I imagined they would in the blog preview with a fluid 433 formation. Kemal Izzet was a surprise (for me) omission along with new signing Sanchez Watt. The back four picked itself in my opinion, whilst Marcus Bean and David Wright partnered Craig Eastmond in the centre of the park. Freddie Sears and Gavin Massey lined up on the flanks and Jabo Ibehre was the lone frontman for the U’s.
I thought Gillingham started brightly as you would imagine. The quick tempo proved too much for Gills full back Matt Fish, who went down injured within the first five minutes and had to be subbed.
Despite their quick start, the League One new boys didn’t really look like troubling the scores.
The U’s started to get themselves together early in the half and I thought Jabo Ibehre should have done better from a Freddie Sears centre. The powerful forward smashed his shot over the bar as the chance went begging.
Sam Walker made a top save to deny Kedwell © gazette-news.co.uk
It was quite an entertaining start to the game with end to end football that lacked any end product. Sam Walker had to be on hand to tip a Danny Kedwell effort onto the corner of the post and bar. I have read quite a few reports on the game and none are giving the young Chelsea loanee any credit for a really impressive save.
At the other end the U’s looked to beak the deadlock, but Sears saw a curled effort go wide and Ibehre’s miscontrol let him down as he looked to go through on goal.
The U’s were looking comfortable and were able to deal with every thing Gillingham threw at them. The final chance of the half came from a free kick in a dangerous position on the verge of half time, but a tame effort from Joe Martin was easily saved by Walker.
Into the second half the Gills forced a number of corners, but despite their superiour height advantage, they were unable to make any of their set pieces count, despite the U’s not being overly brilliant in defending the balls into the box.
Brian Wilson had to be on hand to save the U’s early in the half as a David Wright error allowed Cody McDonald through on goal. The U’s full back made an excellent tackle to deny the former Witham Town striker a chance to shoot and yet another corner was given.
Despite the home team dominance, they had nothing to show for their efforts and Colchester had a great chance to take the lead. Ryan Dickson, making his U’s debut, sent in a delicious cross, but midfielder Marcus Bean could only shin his effort straight at the U’s nemesis in the Gillingham goal, Stuart Nelson. The former Brentford ‘keeper seems to follow Martin Allen around like a bad smell and always seems to save his best for when he plays against the U’s.
Both sides proved to be rather wasteful in front of goal, with substitute Myles Weston blazing an effort miles over when well placed and Jabo Ibehre also shot straight at Stuart Nelson on the turn.
U’s substitute Alex Gilbey had a great chance with his first touch as he found himself in a great position, but could only head his effort straight at Nelson. Gilbey had another great chance from a similar position, this time after great work down the right from Gavin Massey, but again the young midfielder could only plant his header straight at Nelson, and his reaction showed he knew he should have done better.
The U’s began to look a lot more dangerous in the final quarter of the game, but still had to be wary of the threat from the home side as they pushed forward. A defensive lapse allowed the Gills a chance late on, but Martin saw his shot fly narrowly wide of the crossbar.
Bond passed the ball into the net to earn the U’s the points © football.co.uk
Just as the match looked destined to end in a draw, a swift counter attack gave Dunne’s men a late, late lead. Alex Gilbey’s beautifully weighted pass allowed fellow sub, Drey Wright the chance to burst through into the Gills box. The young winger excellently spun Leon Legge and laid off the ball to another substitute Andy Bond, who made an instant impact in sidefooting his first touch of the ball into the back of the net.
Three minutes of injury time passed, but the U’s held on with consummate ease to earn their first three points of the season. Interestingly, the U’s have not been defeated in their last five opening day fixtures following the final whistle.
Gillingham
S Nelson, A Barrett, L Legge, J Martin, M Fish (S Butcher, 5), S Gregory, C Lee (A Akinfenwa, 62), C Whelpdale, A Linganzi, D Kedwell, C McDonald (M Weston, 56)
Subs not used: B Dack, A German, G Howard, C Davies
Colchester
S Walker, B Wilson, R Dickson, M Okuonghae, C Eastmond (A Bond, 87), M Bean (A Gilbey, 74), D Wright, T Eastman, J Ibehre, F Sears (D Wright, 78), G Massey
Subs not used: C Morrison, J Thompson, T Olufemi, M Cousins
Attendance: 6792
Man of the Match: David Wright
My Pennies Worth
I felt it was a rather entertaining game of football that could have gone either way. To be honest neither side really looked like threatening the scores, but I was glad to see the U’s defend rather stoutly.
Ryan Dickson made his competitive debut for the U’s © gazette-news.co.uk
We had a couple of dodgy moments and it was clear to see that Gillingham were targeting Ryan Dickson as Sears is not the greatest in helping the full back out. I felt it was a great debut for Dickson, who defended well and showed just how important he will be to the U’s cause this season with some brilliant crosses into the box.
I felt for all U’s remained comfortable on the ball and I was pleased we did not overdo it with the passing football at the back.
Craig Eastmond will be a huge player for Colchester this season. The former Arsenal midfielder just looks so, so classy with the ball at his feet. His tracking and position is also very good, but his passing is first class. I would like to see how many passes he made and just how many were successful, because his vision and ability to pick a pass is very impressive.
Eastmond’s class was partnered with the workmanlike David Wright and Marcus Bean, who I also felt had a really good games. I have always written in the past about the importance of winning the midfield battle and I felt the U’s came on top in this game.
My Man of the match – David Wright had an excellent game © cu-fc.com
Wright was my man of the match with a great display. It was no thrills and no nonsense from the former Palace man who seemed like he had something to prove against a Gillingham side who he spent time on loan at last season prior to joining the U’s. He appeared to be everywhere and stopped the Gills in their tracks. The only blot on his copybook was allowing McDonald a chance early in the second half and a shocking effort after Ryan Dickson squared the ball to him from a free kick.
I also felt Gavin Massey picked up from where he left off last season. Gav does a lot of work which fans do not appreciate. His covering of Wilson was excellent in the first half and showed just how important he is to the side. He looked to have worked on a few tricks in the summer too as he looked a dangerous threat in the second half. He showed great composure to get his head up and pick out Gilbey, whereas a lot of the time last season, he’d have not looked and just smacked the ball into the box.
Martin Allen used his remaining subs pretty quickly in the second half and they never really seemed to pay off, whilst Dunne’s subs had a great impact in winning the game for the U’s.
Alex Gilbey helped the U’s claim all three points. © elite.gd
I have to admit that I thought it was a brave move to introduce Gilbey into the game, but I had nothing to be worried about as the eighteen year old took it all in his stride. He should have done better with his two efforts, but he brought a fresh impetus into the midfield and got the U’s moving in the final third.
I absolutely love the goal we scored. Gilbey was the creative force, producing a wonderful pass for Wright. Gilbey just knew the U’s wideman would get onto the end of the ball, but Wright showed great ability to get the ball to Bond and the rest is history!
It is always nice to start the season with a victory and I have to give a mention to Sam Walker in the U’s goal. Despite not having much to do, he made a fantastic save from Kedwell and looked dominant aerially.
We still look a little short in attack, but when do go forward, we do look quite dangerous. We just need a little bit more quality in the final third to achieve our aims.
The Old Oak Tree 