[ 1 Apr 25 ] GILLS v Colchester United Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Both the Gills and Colchester have won 32 of the league and cup meetings between the sides with a further 27 ending level. Both sides have won 2 of the last 4 games, won 3 of the last 7, won 4 of the last 9, won 5 of the last 11 and have won 6 of the last 15.
- The Gills have won 2 of the last 5 meetings whilst Colchester's home win in the reverse fixture, their 3rd win in those 5 games, ended 4 straight wins for the away sides. Those 5 wins all saw clean sheets, as has been the case in 8 of the last 10 meetings.
- Of their 19 league games on the road this season, Colchester have drawn 10 of them. They have only lost 4, conceding 4 goals in 3 of them, and their 1-4 defeat at Bradford in their last away game ended a 7-game away unbeaten run and was only their 2nd away loss in 15 away league games.
- The Gills' last home win over Colchester came back in December 2015. Since then, in all competitions, Colchester have drawn 1 of their last 4 visits and won 3 including their last 2 trips. During that spell, the Gills won 4 visits to Colchester until losing there this season.
- In all competitions, back in January, Colchester lost 3 games in a row before going on a 13-game unbeaten run in the league which included 9 wins and culminated in 5 in a row. Their most recent 2 matches following that 13-game unbeaten spell ended in 1-2 and 1-4 defeats.
- Colchester's 8 away clean sheets is the joint highest amount in League 2 alongside leaders Walsall. They have prevented home sides from scoring in 8 of their last 12 away league matches.

[Tue 1st April 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Colchester United
Opposition Manager: Danny Cowley Matchday Team: Matt Macey, Ellis Iandolo, [c] Tom Flanagan, Fiacre Kelleher, Mandela Egbo, Arthur Read, Jack Tucker, Owura Edwards (Anthony Scully) (Max Jollife), Jack Payne (Rob Hunt), Oscar Thorn (Ken Aboh), Tyreece Simpson
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (8th)
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 5,924 (767)

(19:45) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 ]
(19.49) A hopeful floated ball forward for the Gills is put right under the bar. 'Keeper Macey flaps at it and misses. The ball falls onto Gbode's head at the far post who was surprised it reached him and it bounces off his head and behind for a goal kick.
(19.57) Hutton and Clark causing issues from out wide. The Gills have 2 attempts which the 'keeper clawed away inches from a Gills attacker that was ready to capitise.
(19.59) Gills beat the Colchester defence again. A simple cut-back finds Gbode at the near post. He sticks out a left leg and deflects the ball wide of the post from close range.
(20.05) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Colchester United: Payne. Gale was shepherding a through ball out for a goal kick. It was poached on the line and looked like the whole ball had crossed the line before being pulled back for a simple tap in with every Gills' player and supporter appealing. Confusion arose for a short while before the ref signaled goal.
(20.16) Massive driven dipping shot by McKenzie sees a fast reaction save from Macey's very strong fingers and tips it narrowly over the bar.
(20.24) Goal scorer Payne goes off injured, already their second substitution of the match after Edwards was replaced after 25 minutes.
(20.28) Colchester cannot deal with Gbode. He outmuscles a defender, works space to pass, it breaks down and he muscles his way back in again before dinking the ball over the goal from a tight angle.
(20.30) The referee adds on 7 additional minutes.
(20.38) Half time 0-1 [52:18]

(20.54) The second half kicks off.
(20.57) Brilliant cross from Jonny Williams is perfectly placed but Smith is just an inch or two away from making the contact he needs to guide it past the 'keeper.
(20.06) Great triangular passing by the visitors works space through the Gills defence for Simpson to tap home simply but Masterson was watching it all the way and taps it behind before the trigger could be pulled.
(21.13) Strong appeals for a Gills penalty by everyone in a blue shirt and the Rainham End. It was struck at the Colchester player at pace and from close range. The referee isn't interested and instead awards the Gills their 9th corner of the match.
(21.14) Neat switching play by the Gills allows Max Clark to cross when everyone expected something else. He finds Nevitt in the perfect place to convert but he can't generate enough pace.
(21.19) Colchester cannot get the ball off the Gills. Hutton, Williams and McKenzie in particular are moving the ball around frequently on the edge of the box making spaces. The latest sequence ends with a tame Hawkins header straight at the 'keeper where more power would likely have been a goal.
(21.24) Penalty! Hawkins is pulled down inside the box.
(21.25) GOAL! Gillingham 1-1 Colchester United: M Clark (pen)
(21.34) The Gills win their 11th corner (10 more than Colchester). They face a sea of red and somehow find enough space to get a shot which the 'keeper just about gathers after seeing it late through the bodies.
(21.39) 4 minutes will be added to the end of the match.
(21.43) FULL TIME 1-1 [101.49]

Gills' League Position After Game: 19th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c78e856l68et
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYtPbJRgSO4

[Garawa]

MATCH STATS (GFC v COL):

Possession - 63% to 37%
Total Shots at Goal - 19 to 4
Shots on Target - 6 to 3
Blocks - 0 to 5
Crosses - 48 to 5
Corners - 11 to 1
Interceptions 11 to 5
Clearances - 13 to 66
Headed Clearances - 7 to 53
Key Passes - 11 to 4
Fouls Committed - 6 to 14
Yellow Cards - 0 to 5

Stats aren't everything BUT........

We didn't win thanks to a solitary decision where the ball looked to have crossed the line! That just about tells the tale of a lot of this season. Let's hope being harder to beat starts to turn the luck more our way!