Tuesday 9 February - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace

Tranmere were the better of two relegation haunted sides and deserved their victory. They were better organized in defence, winning the ball in midfield plus a solid ten-minute attacking period just after the break that finally led to their goal. It was only Tranmere’s second away win this season but enough to lift them level on points with the Gills but with a valuable game in hand.

Following the disappointing defeat at Brentford manager Mark Stimson (left) made four changes and a introduced a baffling tactical plan to combat Tranmere who had only managed eight goals in away matches that many at the ground questioned.

New signing James Walker who had a decent debut at Brentford where he looked to be forming an instant partnership with Simeon Jackson was surprisingly left on the bench and was not in the starting line-up.

In contrast, Danny Jackman, who had not played in a full competitive match for four months came in for his first start since October, Curtis Weston and Chris Palmer also started leaving Gills with Simeon Jackson as their one striker.

Why manager Mark thought that Simeon would be able to unlock the Tranmere big back four is hard to fathom as ball after ball was lumped up to the diminutive forward and he really had no chance of controlling many. These lofted “bombs” were meat and drink to the Tranmere defence.

The double pairing of Josh Gowling and Darren Dennehy in the heart of the Gills defence that proved unsuccessfull at Brentford was another selection surprise by Mark Stimson.

Gills were playing five across midfield with Luke Rooney (pictured left) starting a rare match and looking out of place playing on the right in a very deep wing defensive/attack position.

Curtis Weston, playing inside Rooney just behind Simeon Jackson - it was very scrappy for the first twenty minutes with very little positive attacking by the Gills.

Understandably with both teams struggling in the league and in poor form it was cautious and boring play between two nervous bunches of players. The first real chance came on 25 minutes when Luke Rooney finally got forward and got to a Chris Palmer cross to head just over the bar.

On 35 minutes Chris Palmer ran onto the ball and with the crowd urging, shot from the edge of the area that was pushed away by Luke Daniels in the Tranmere goal. The ball bounced loose in the box but Mark Bentley failed to reach it and possibly Gills best chance of the half was gone.

The only real Rovers goal attempt of the first half was a long range effort from Gareth Edds, who was an early substitute because of an injury to Ash Taylor, but this was easily saved by Alan Julian.

However there were some nervous and indecisive moments in the Gills defence and Tranmere nearly scored from a mix up between Josh Gowling and Alan Julian as Ian Thomas-Moore almost managed to get a shot away after both Gills players dithered over a through ball.

The half time came as something of a relief to the crowd on a cold night that had watched a dire first 45 minutes of football.

The second period started but although it was obvious that the Gills were not playing cohesively and with any determined purpose, manager Mark Stimson had not made any changes.

Directly following the restart Andy Barcham (right) livened the crowd as he ran toward the Rainham End in a typical mazy and tricky run down to the by-line and crossed. Luke Rooney pounced and his careful side footed shot unfortunately rammed the crossbar and ricochet over.

Tranmere’s half time team talk must have been on the lines that something could be easily gained from the game if sustained pressure could be put on the Gills back four. They became more confident and began to look like the team most likely to score especially between the 50 and 65-minute mark.

The ominous signs were there as Alan Julian kept Gills in the game with two superb saves both from the impressive Edds. Both chances came in quick succession and in saving the second Alan Julian showed World-class reflexes to palm away a point blank header and saved a certain goal.

Then disaster for everyone connected with Gills when Tranmere took a deserved lead on 68 minutes. The Gills defence failed to clear several times from the goalmouth and the unseemingly scramble ended with Ian Thomas-Moore (left) hitting a shot into an empty net.

The lowest Priestfield crowd of the season were at first stunned and then let their anger known toward the bench which was not abated when Mark Stimson introduced Dennis Oli for Luke Rooney and then the boos increased following the introduction of Adam Miller for Mark Bentley.

These late changes did little to help the Gills score although Danny Jackman did put Chris Palmer in on the left and his shot from 20 yards fizzed past the post with Luke Daniels nowhere in sight.

Finally with only seven minutes left manager Mark brought on James Walker but there was too little time for the new signing to be effective.

Gills last real chance came in four minutes of stoppage time as Dennis Oli received the ball six yards out from goal but he shot over the bar. Josh Gowling was surprisingly, to myself at least, named Sponsor’s Man of the Match to more crowd astonishment. 

Sections of the home crowd reacted angrily at the final whistle calling for Mark Stimson to go after watching Gills winless run extend to nine games and they are still waiting for a Gills Priestfield goal in 2010. The defeat dropped Gills into the bottom four and relegation looks like their bleak future unless an amazing turn-around in form and confidence arrives.

Gills Team: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, Josh Gowling, Darren Dennehy, Chris Palmer, Luke Rooney (Dennis Oli 68), Mark Bentley (Adam Miller 70), Danny

Jackman, Andy Barcham, Curtis Weston (James Walker 83) and Simeon Jackson

Substitutes Not Used: Simon Royce, Kevin Maher, Jack Payne and Tom Wynter

Tranmere: Daniels, Logan, McLaren, Welsh, Taylor (Edds 24), Broomes, Bakayogo, Curran, McCready, Sordell (Gornell 77), Thomas-Moore

Substitutes Not Used: Collister, Barnett, Mahon, Cresswell and Shuker

Attendance: 3,840