Gillingham 0, Oxford Utd 1 (From Herald Series)
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Gillingham 0, Oxford Utd 1
10:37pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
Gillingham 0, Oxford Utd 1
ALFIE Potter struck late on as Oxford United magnificently toppled league leaders Gillingham at Priestfield tonight.
The winger, who was effectively used through the middle in a new-look side, ran through to beat goalkeeper Stuart Nelson to claim a superb result.
It was far from a smash and grab raid for the visitors, who went toe-to-toe with Gillingham all evening.
There was little to choose between the sides throughout in a fiercely contested game, but United deserved their result for a mature display.
When their moment arrived, Potter showed a ruthlessness to take the chance and punish the home side - an attribute which has been absent in recent weeks.
U’s boss Chris Wilder made four changes from the side which began Saturday’s goalless draw against York City.
Deane Smalley, who had started just once since the Gills visited the Kassam in October, came in up front.
Potter was brought in to play just behind him, as James Constable and Tom Craddock dropped to the bench.
Simon Heslop and Tony Capldi came into midfield for Josh Parker and the ineligible Lewis Montrose.
It looked a gamble against the leaders, but the line-up gelled quickly.
Gillingham were the first to threaten, when Joe Martin robbed Damian Batt and fizzed in a fourth-minute shot which keeper Luke McCormick tipped over.
After the early scare the U’s bounced back to take control of the game.
Potter played with a confidence which had been absent in recent weeks and was an irritation to the Gills back four.
He won three free-kicks in quick succession all within 30 yards of goal, with Adam Chapman firing the last of them into the arms of Nelson.
United showed a real intent in possession and they were a particular threat down the left flank, where Liam Davis and Sean Rigg combined well.
One bustling run from Davis ended with a low cross which found its way to Potter, who could not readjust his feet in time to take advantage.
But Gillingham showed why they have the best defensive record in League Two, with their back four working well under pressure to prevent any clear chances.
The hosts’ lack of success began to frustrate the majority of the crowd, but their side came into the game as an attacking force in the ten minutes before half-time.
Another burst from Martin exposed United’s defence, but the full back’s cross was only flicked goalwards by Adam Birchall and McCormick easily gathered.
Six minutes before the break McCormick was needed to make a far more testing stop.
Bradley Dack, brought on seconds earlier for the injured Myles Weston, should have scored with this first touch, but his close-range shot was too close to the U’s goalkeeper, who parried.
The pattern continued after half-time, as both centre back pairings excelled.
Gillingham withdrew all but Birchall when United pressed forward, strangling them for space.
United, looking for a third successive clean sheet, were equally impressive defensively.
Both sides made changes up front in the final 20 minutes.
Constable replaced Smalley, who had worked extremely hard to occupy the centre backs.
Gillingham threw on Antonio German, who had signed on loan from Brentford hours before the game.
He had a chance to crown his debut with a goal eight minutes from time, but scuffed a shot straight at McCormick.
The previous two meetings between the sides had finished goalless and as the game headed into the final ten minutes another stalemate looked on the cards.
But United stunned Priestfield when Capaldi sent Potter clear and the winger held off a challenge before tucking a neat shot past Nelson and into the net.
Michael Duberry was brought on to help repel Gillingham’s frantic search for an equaliser.
There were some nervous moments, but McCormick went untested and the away fans celebrated a memorable win.
Comments(32)
botleyboy
says...
11:10pm Tue 26 Feb 13
Bis4badger
says...
11:20pm Tue 26 Feb 13
martico1
says...
11:46pm Tue 26 Feb 13
oldun
says...
6:34am Wed 27 Feb 13
oldun
says...
7:01am Wed 27 Feb 13
Chish and Fips
says...
7:32am Wed 27 Feb 13
oldun wrote:Stay positive Oldun - as an outsider as well you know - your lots away form is carrying you - has this having the 'egg-chasers' ripping up the home turf affected home games then ? Seems that way on results.
9 points behind ‘big’ Cheltenham and with a game in hand - play offs here we come! Winning away to table toppers - the spirit of Ian Greaves lives on!! I remember our only home league defeat of 83-84 – we had over 20 corners to the Gills one – but with Steve Bruce and co defending superbly, United lost 1-0. Odds are still very sadly very heavily against our promotion for 2013-14 . That rotund female is nowhere near the podium . COYY Do I hear “Hear, Hear”?? Give us an O!!!
oldun
says...
7:35am Wed 27 Feb 13
Chish and Fips wrote:Away win 3 points won - home win 3 points gained. Bury know that
oldun wrote:Stay positive Oldun - as an outsider as well you know - your lots away form is carrying you - has this having the 'egg-chasers' ripping up the home turf affected home games then ? Seems that way on results.
9 points behind ‘big’ Cheltenham and with a game in hand - play offs here we come! Winning away to table toppers - the spirit of Ian Greaves lives on!! I remember our only home league defeat of 83-84 – we had over 20 corners to the Gills one – but with Steve Bruce and co defending superbly, United lost 1-0. Odds are still very sadly very heavily against our promotion for 2013-14 . That rotund female is nowhere near the podium . COYY Do I hear “Hear, Hear”?? Give us an O!!!
Chish and Fips
says...
7:39am Wed 27 Feb 13
oldun wrote:Take another tablet and rewrite that one - not sure of the statement you are trying to make there - it is a bit early for cryptic messages .
Chish and Fips wrote:Away win 3 points won - home win 3 points gained. Bury know that
oldun wrote:Stay positive Oldun - as an outsider as well you know - your lots away form is carrying you - has this having the 'egg-chasers' ripping up the home turf affected home games then ? Seems that way on results.
9 points behind ‘big’ Cheltenham and with a game in hand - play offs here we come! Winning away to table toppers - the spirit of Ian Greaves lives on!! I remember our only home league defeat of 83-84 – we had over 20 corners to the Gills one – but with Steve Bruce and co defending superbly, United lost 1-0. Odds are still very sadly very heavily against our promotion for 2013-14 . That rotund female is nowhere near the podium . COYY Do I hear “Hear, Hear”?? Give us an O!!!
oldun
says...
8:03am Wed 27 Feb 13
cleverswindler
says...
8:28am Wed 27 Feb 13
botleyboy wrote:I understand only the real supporters go away, and they get behind the team. It's hard to hear the moaners here in Oxford, when you are down in Kent.
So when we're up against the better teams and away from the Kass Stad the team puts a real shift in. Back home with nearly six thousand fans against mediocre opposition the same players look like they don't want to be there. Would someone explain?
oldun
says...
8:46am Wed 27 Feb 13
cleverswindler wrote:Was a home and away supporter for about twenty years but since then have rarely travelled away. Even in the great days , many away draws were viewed as acceptable eg o-o at Highbury (League) , 1-1 at Moanchester United (League Cup) even draws at Luton or Wrexham - when they were better than now . Draws at home (even when we are nowt special - like now) are often viewed as points lost. Human nature? Many great fans rarely go to away matches - time and/or money might be issues. I now have time and money (unlike in the 70s) but see very few Us matches. I bet that shows!!
botleyboy wrote:I understand only the real supporters go away, and they get behind the team. It's hard to hear the moaners here in Oxford, when you are down in Kent.
So when we're up against the better teams and away from the Kass Stad the team puts a real shift in. Back home with nearly six thousand fans against mediocre opposition the same players look like they don't want to be there. Would someone explain?
Chish and Fips
says...
9:03am Wed 27 Feb 13
Chish and Fips wrote:Yes but what as that to do with original question of the state of your pitch.
oldun wrote:Take another tablet and rewrite that one - not sure of the statement you are trying to make there - it is a bit early for cryptic messages .
Chish and Fips wrote:Away win 3 points won - home win 3 points gained. Bury know that
oldun wrote:Stay positive Oldun - as an outsider as well you know - your lots away form is carrying you - has this having the 'egg-chasers' ripping up the home turf affected home games then ? Seems that way on results.
9 points behind ‘big’ Cheltenham and with a game in hand - play offs here we come! Winning away to table toppers - the spirit of Ian Greaves lives on!! I remember our only home league defeat of 83-84 – we had over 20 corners to the Gills one – but with Steve Bruce and co defending superbly, United lost 1-0. Odds are still very sadly very heavily against our promotion for 2013-14 . That rotund female is nowhere near the podium . COYY Do I hear “Hear, Hear”?? Give us an O!!!
Joe1
says...
9:58am Wed 27 Feb 13
What a strange team we support winning away to the top team & playing so poorly at home. Guess it must be the curse on the K--------m ground?
Abingdonox
says...
10:11am Wed 27 Feb 13
BigAlBiker
says...
10:29am Wed 27 Feb 13
Abingdonox wrote:Morning Abingdonox, my apologies for not getting here sooner but a little hung over from the mighty yellows winning last night, excellent win against the top team and although the performance was not up to much hopefully Alfie's goal may give him confidence to go on and play well.
BigAlBiker, where are you this morning? You are normally the first to comment !!!
Pity we cant play away all the time, but i still maintain that Mr WIlder and his "oppo's" leave at the end f the season and take his donkeys with him.
Onwards and upwards.
oldun
says...
11:22am Wed 27 Feb 13
Chish and Fips wrote:Ohh - how silly of me to miss that vital concern of yours. Pitch affects away teams as well - my guess is that in the long term an unusual pitch (sloping eg Manor or damaged eg our current ground) favours the home side - rip it up you burly wuggah buggahs!!
Chish and Fips wrote:Yes but what as that to do with original question of the state of your pitch.
oldun wrote:Take another tablet and rewrite that one - not sure of the statement you are trying to make there - it is a bit early for cryptic messages .
Chish and Fips wrote:Away win 3 points won - home win 3 points gained. Bury know that
oldun wrote:Stay positive Oldun - as an outsider as well you know - your lots away form is carrying you - has this having the 'egg-chasers' ripping up the home turf affected home games then ? Seems that way on results.
9 points behind ‘big’ Cheltenham and with a game in hand - play offs here we come! Winning away to table toppers - the spirit of Ian Greaves lives on!! I remember our only home league defeat of 83-84 – we had over 20 corners to the Gills one – but with Steve Bruce and co defending superbly, United lost 1-0. Odds are still very sadly very heavily against our promotion for 2013-14 . That rotund female is nowhere near the podium . COYY Do I hear “Hear, Hear”?? Give us an O!!!
martico1
says...
11:34am Wed 27 Feb 13
oldun
says...
11:53am Wed 27 Feb 13
martico1 wrote:How did Heslop play? I have always thought that he is a 'non entity'. I am so often wrong! How did he play? CW out - unless we go up this season - fingers crossed
Me again: not sure I was enthusiastic enough earlier, and am still in a high this morning even after getting back at 01.15! Dead right CleverSwindler: the one early (beery) cry of 'Wilder Out' last night was quickly shouted down by the real fans who were there. This really was inspirational stuff: CW had thought about it, chnaged things around, motivated everyone to play as if their lives depended on it - and got a result. Jake Wright worth £1m on that performance: positional play, anticipation, all spot on. Now we just need to work on our up-front composure, and getting that final pass right....
BigAlBiker
says...
12:07pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Maxter
says...
1:15pm Wed 27 Feb 13
BigAlBiker wrote:Ill, not injured.
Where was Andy Whing? injured again?
BigAlBiker
says...
2:17pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Maxter wrote:That's better then, we need him for the rest of the season. A quality man.
BigAlBiker wrote:Ill, not injured.
Where was Andy Whing? injured again?
cleverswindler
says...
5:29pm Wed 27 Feb 13
martico1 wrote:I've always said you get a different type of fan going to away games, they tend to enjoy the day, have a few beers, get behind the team, I suppose it's not a lot of point traveling to say Plymouth if you are just going to stand there and moan.
Me again: not sure I was enthusiastic enough earlier, and am still in a high this morning even after getting back at 01.15! Dead right CleverSwindler: the one early (beery) cry of 'Wilder Out' last night was quickly shouted down by the real fans who were there. This really was inspirational stuff: CW had thought about it, chnaged things around, motivated everyone to play as if their lives depended on it - and got a result. Jake Wright worth £1m on that performance: positional play, anticipation, all spot on. Now we just need to work on our up-front composure, and getting that final pass right....
Good on you for going to Kent for a night game Martico, I'm afraid my enthusiasm has waned a bit!
YellowRose
says...
6:09pm Wed 27 Feb 13
oldun
says...
6:20pm Wed 27 Feb 13
YellowRose wrote:"VERY VERY VERY WELL DONE FOR THAT WIN, LADS, AGAINST THE TOP TEAM" - Now, turning to the season as a whole ....
Can't we just have WELL DONE FOR THAT WIN, LADS, AGAINST THE TOP TEAM..... without all the negative comments?
We can still salvage the season (just) - that's as positive as it could be - surely?
YellowRose
says...
6:42pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Richard Wickson
says...
10:09pm Wed 27 Feb 13
YellowRose wrote:Yes but it's been a very negative season, we have lost money, we are in negative goals for/against, lost more than we have won. Could still turn out to be a season of improvement with a run of good results and that would be a positive! Just!
Good try, but not good enough. Still a negative hidden in there....
oldun
says...
10:11pm Wed 27 Feb 13
YellowRose wrote:Can't fool yer!
Good try, but not good enough. Still a negative hidden in there....
adlibber
says...
6:57am Thu 28 Feb 13
If we do go up I'll reconsider my opinion.
congrats to team for the win though and like most fans I wonder where that performance came from but I'd like to to hang around awhile anyway.
martico1
says...
8:18am Thu 28 Feb 13
Manor Born
says...
5:20pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Credit it where it is due, Wilder set up a team that if it came away with a draw he and us all would have been delighted, so to get the win was the cream & the cherry on top.
Now we just need to stop worrying about the pitch at the stadium & concentrate on playing football.
Richard Wickson
says...
8:50pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Patrick in Devon says...
10:49pm Tue 26 Feb 13