Saturday 20 March - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace

The Addicks certainly were not performing as the third best side in the division and Gills were resolute in defence and enterprising in midfield and attack in an exciting first half.

The Gills reached the break 2-1 in the lead. Their second half performance was matched by a renewed Charlton but a share of the points were more than well deserved.

Manager Mark Stimson kept Simeon Jackson on the bench following his hamstring problem of last week and gave a first team start to Dennis Oli (pictured right) partnering Rene Howe.

The rest of the Gills team were the same as started last Saturday’s goal less draw with Stockport.

The main threat from a disappointing Charlton side, considering their league position, was down the flanks with Therry Racon and Lloyd Sam.

Both these players had shots from the edge of the penalty area go just wide during the opening minutes.

Dennis Oli had a couple of chances early on but perhaps his lack of match fitness let him down as twice he ran through on goal but disappointingly failed to shoot when able and was stopped first by Christian Dailly and then the goalkeeper.

The early Gills promise began to fade as the game swung into Charlton’s favour and the Gills were finding it harder to control the midfield although it must be said that both Adam Miller and Curtis Weston were showing good touches.

Charlton earned a corner which was curled in the penalty with pace and Sam Sodje rose high to head home only for the ball to cannon off the crossbar with Alan Julian beaten. Nicky Bailey, who had angered Gills fans with constant diving and complaining to the referee, headed over the rebound much to Gills relief.

Then on 31 minutes came a goal out of nothing but gifted to Charlton by Gills keeper Alan Julian. A long-range speculative shot from right back Frazer Richardson (pictured left) at some 25 yards, went under the diving Julian at a fairly nominal speed. His first goal of the season following some 30 starts.

The Alan Julian error was a crushing blow to the hard working Gills and although the playing surface had been under some persistant fine rain since the start of the game this was an error of sizeable proportions.

Thankfully for the Gills Charlton were at their most vulnerable as they must have still been celebrating when Andy Barcham (pictured right) equalized a minute later with a stunning goal.

Andy picked up the ball on the left direct from the re-start and came running at goal. His shot on the run swerved in the air in front of the massed ranks of Gills supporters and screamed into the top right hand corner of the net. 

Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot was grasping thin air as the ball whipped past him and cued massive celebrations from the Gills fans.

Charlton were stung into action and striker Dean Burton met a superb cross that was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Alan Julian. Gills fans were left wondering how Julian can be so good one minute but less than average the next.

The fourth official indicated four minutes of stoppage time and the Gills took full advantage getting their second goal through another keeper’s mistake.

Rene Howe who worked tirelessly all match leading the line did well to stay on his feet through a clumsy tackle as he entered the penalty area right on the line. His shot was not fully intended because of the stumble and lacked power but Rob Elliot didn’t gather cleanly and the ball bounced to Dennis Oli who shot home from two yards.

The home crowd showed their dissatisfaction with the Addicks performance as they trouped off for half time and goalkeeper Rob Elliot was substituted for the second period with Darren Randolph.

Gills fans expected the impetus gained by the goal would carry them well into the second period but they failed to make much headway in midfield due to increased efforts by Charlton. Gills were finding it hard to get attacks moving and the front two were beginning to be isolated as Charlton increased pressure.

The inevitable happened on the hour as striker David Mooney (pictured left) equalized.

The lively winger Therry Racon caused all sorts of confusion and he twisted and turned in the Gills area and gave a low cross into the path of David Mooney who controlled the ball before faking his first shot, sending Gils defenders the wrong way, and cracking the second in the right corner in the 60th minute.

Alan Julian had no chance and didn’t move as the ball shot past him.

Thirty minutes left and Gills fans were thinking that Charlton might go on and win the game, as Gills were clearly struggling to retain the ball and get it up to the front two. Mark Stimson then surprisingly brought on Simeon Jackson with 15 minutes left when most fans thought that a midfielder would be more useful given the circumstances.

However, the Gills top scorer nearly got on the end of a through ball but the new Addicks goalie, Darren Randolph saved at his feet. It was mostly Charlton in the latter stages although they never really dominated, Gills defense were sometimes not together but individually it was hard to fault anyone in front of Alan Julian.

It was a thoroughly deserved and welcomed point in Gills fight for survival and more of the same determined team effort in the remaining games should keep them out of the bottom four.

Charlton: Elliot (Randolph 46 minutes), Richardson, Bailey, Semedo, Racon (Reid 79 minutes), Burton (A Sodje 43 minutes), Sam, S Sodje, Mooney, Dailly, and Borrowdale

Unused Substitutes: Llera, Shelvey, Wagstaff, Solly

Gills: Alan Julian, Stuart Lewis, Garry Richards, Darren Dennehy, John Nutter, Adam Miller, Curtis Weston (Simeon Jackson 73 minutes ), Danny Jackman, Andy Barcham, Rene Howe (James Walker 82 minutes) and Dennis Oli (Mark Bentley 89 minutes)

Unused Substitutes: Simon Royce, Kevin Maher, Chris Palmer and Jack Payne

Attendance: 20,024 (Gills fans est. 2,800)