In a chilly afternoon at the Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham came out on top 2-0 after a very poor display from Charlton. The story is all too familiar as last year’s FA Cup effort, getting knocked out by a League 2 side in the second round.

The Gills named three former Addicks in their starting line-up in Macauley Bonne, Jonny Williams and George Lapslie. We all knew that they would be up for it! Charlton named a strong starting side with mainly first team players but there was very little fight and determination on display compared to Gillingham coming out worthy winners on the day.

For the Addicks, the game was littered with misplaced passes, poor decisions in key moment and lapses in concentration. From kick off, The Gills looked positive going forward and not giving Charlton time on the ball with their pressing.

The first chance of the game however fell to Charlton in the 9th minute. Loui Watson with a neat one-two with Corey Blackett Taylor from a short corner to cut back to Alfie May whose well struck shot from 12 yards was by Gills Keeper Jake Turner.

It was Gillingham that took the lead on 26 mins. A well-lofted ball over the top by Jonny Williams then Ashley Maynard-Brewer was perhaps too eagerly off his line in no man’s land, then a cut back from Clarke to who else but Macauley Bonne who’s scuffed shot nestled in the back of the net via a deflection and the post.

From the restart Charlton went straight down the other end and won a corner but over complicated things to give away a goal kick. It was that goal kick that after a few missed interceptions lead to the second goal. Lapslie with some neat footwork getting free through the middle of the park playing in Dieng who cooly slotted past the advancing AMB to stun the Addicks by scoring twice in 4 minutes.

Charlton had claims for a pen turned down after what they thought was a handball, certainly looked like they had a valid point seeing the replay. Shortly after The Gills went close with a free kick from Diang when his shot went wide of AMB’s right hand post. Gillingham had to make their 2nd change of the game just before half-time when J. Williams left the field with a nasty looking mouth injury.

Early in the second half it was the home side who was on the ascendancy, resulting in two quick succession corners. The second of which was met but just glanced over the crossbar. Hardly the start Charlton wanted.
After that was a bit end to end without any clear cut chances for either side. Clarke was next to go close for The Gills with a well-worked shot well saved by Maynard Brewer for a corner. The corner resulted in a break away chance for Charlton that May put a little too much on a through ball for CBT that was saved by Turner sliding in. 

Beyond the hour mark it was more Gillingham chances. At 77 mins, a punted ball over the top to Bonne that he should really have slotted away for his 2nd of the afternoon. He broke the offside trap before attempting to poke it in, but Maynard Brewer got something on it and then everything was tidied up by Ness.

Two minutes later pretty much a similar story ball into the box, Bonne managed to control it whilst under pressure from T. Watson and then was able to be claimed by Maynard Brewer before things could get much worse.

In one of those games that was petering out and longing for a spark from Charlton but nothing was forthcoming. The only late drama was when a blocked Gillingham cross struck the corner flag and it snapped in two. As per the rules the game was unable to continue for a few minutes just to add some more agonising overtime.

So typically, our run in the FA Cup run comes to a premature end. There’s always next year... We move on to the real cup competition, the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Wednesday. Our opponents are Reading who themselves were knocked out the FA Cup by National League Eastleigh.

Artikeln skriven av James Pearce, 2023-04-12, 17:25