[ 24 Apr 21 ] GILLS v Northampton Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Of the 94 wins, Northampton have won 53 games and the Gills have won 41. Just 19 of the 113 meetings have been drawn but there have been 2 draws in the last 8 ties and the last 4 have all come in the away fixture.
- After the Gills went unbeaten in 7 meetings with Northampton (of which 5 were won), Northampton have since won 2 of the last 3 including the reverse fixture this season and their last visit to Priestfield.
- Fighting relegation, Northampton have won 5 of their last 7 matches at home. In their away league matches, after 3 wins from the first 6, they are winless in 15 with 10 ending in defeat.
- After no wins in 11 league games, Northampton have since won 5 of their last 12. They have scored the fewest goals in the division with 38.
- Northampton have the most blank sheets in the division (22 of their 43 have ended goal-less). They have the most blank sheets both at home (12) and joint highest away (10).
- When Northampton take the lead in League 1 games, they stay ahead for the longest period - a total of 51.0 minutes on average. However, they have taken the joint fewest number of leads in the division (17), 11 fewer than the Gills. They have been behind on their travels for 202 fewer minutes than the Gills.

15.01 Kick Off [ 4 - 1 - 3 - 2 ]

15.06
The ball falls to Olly Lee by the penalty spot. He aims a shot which would have beaten the keeper but for a diving header from a defender to clear the ball away.

15.07
Northampton have a free kick which is struck well but passes just wide of Bonham's right post.

15.11
Another strong Gills attack finds MacDonald in the box. As he shoots, a last ditch sliding tackle deflects the ball over for a corner which the 'keeper palms round for another which Oliver scores from.

15.12
GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Northampton: Oliver
Northampton have lost all 10 away league matches this season after conceding the first goal.

15.17
Good low block with the chest stops a Gills attack inside the box but Samuel robs the defender and sends the ball across the face of the goal. The 'keeper gets a faint touch and its a corner.

15.20
A powerful curling shot from outside of the box by Dempsey can only be punched away by the 'keeper.

15.23
Jackson misses a shot after attempting an over-head kick. The ball is cleared to Lee on the left of the box who rabona's a cross but its cleared.

15.26
A poor back pass allows a Northampton forward a free shot with only Bonham to beat. The Gills 'keeper comes out and shot is blazed wide of the goal.

15.37
A Northampton long range curling shot takes a slight deflection and Bonham dives to parry the ball out for a corner which clears everyone and bounces out for a goal kick.

15.42
A long range driven shot narrowly misses Bonham's left hand post.

15.45
Jackson weaves left and right of the Northampton defender, makes space for cross which perfectly meets the head of Oliver and it goes just wide of the post.

15.48 Half time 1-0 (46:56)
The Gills have won 12 of the 15 league games they have been leading at half time (W5, D1, L1 at home). Northampton have lost 10 of their 11 league games when losing at the break including all 5 away from home.

16.05
The second half kicks off.

16.19
Good work to retain possession by the Gills. Jackson provides a great cross to find the head of Samuel or Cundy (hard to tell who got the touch) and from 6 yards heads wide.

16.20
Bonham at full stretch puts the ball just around the post before a second attack sees Bonham spill the high ball and have to turn to face his own goal and catch the bouncing ball by the goal line.

16.21
Another Northampton attack is deflected and flashes across the face of goal and just wide.

16.28
GOAL! Gillingham 2-0 Northampton: Lee

16.33
Former Gill Mark Marshall sends in a curling shot which Cundy heads off the line. Two corners later and a Town header just misses the crossbar.

16.38
A Northampton whipped cross goes across the face of goal just inches from the head of an attacker in the 6 yard box.

16.39
GOAL! Gillingham 2-1 Northampton: Edmonson

16.42
GOAL! Gillingham 2-2 Northampton: Horsfall

16.43
MacDonald should have put the Gills back into the lead. A bullet of a drive is tipped just over the bar.

16.46
Cundy allows Northampton to get a show away which Bonham needs to get down quick to tip round for a corner.

16.47
It should have been 3! Samuel curls a shot round the 'keeper and watches it come off the face of the right hand post and back into the penalty area.

16.50
Triple change for the Gills including a debut for young youth player Gerald Sithole.

16.52
A Northampton corner hits Horsfall and the ball bounces off him and just wide of the post.

16.56 FULL TIME 2-2 (97:20)

Attendance: 0 (0)
Position: 10th
Referee: Carl Brook
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz6MLarSMmE
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56781902

[Garawa]

What a game. Gills started incredibly brightly and should have scored more. 2 Saturdays in a row now where the Gills ran out of energy when 2-nil up and gave away vital points.

Gills now 5 points off the play offs with 2 left to play and with 5 points dropped in the last 2 Saturdays. Blackpool have 2 games in hand so it looks like the faint chance is over.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

Another week of losing a two goal lead.Goals from Oliver and Lee looked like they would be enough to give us the win,but Northampton kept fighting and earned a big point in their relegation fight.Would have been nice to have got the win and cement a top half place.Will need to get 4-6 points I think from the last two games to make that happen now.