[ 2 Jan 25 ] GILLS v Bromley FC Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills face Bromley for the second time in a month, losing the reverse fixture 2-1. The only other meeting between the sides was a Gills FA Cup victory in November 2006.
- Bromley started life in League 2 with just 2 wins from their first 14 league and cup games, a run which produced 7 defeats. In all competitions, they have lost just once in 14 games and are unbeaten in 9, winning 5 of their last 7.
- In all competitions, Bromley have 3 successive away wins and are unbeaten in 4. In the league, they are unbeaten in 6 (winning 3) since their last league defeat on the road at Grimsby back in September. They have lost just 2 of their last 11 away games.
- Bromley have not fallen behind in a league match for 6 games and have only conceded a lead once (for a total of just 19 minutes) in their last 8 league matches.
- The Gills have suffered 7 blank sheets in the league this season. Along with runaway leaders Walsall, Bromley have suffered just 3 and only Cheltenham (2) have had fewer.

[Thur 2nd Jan 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Bromley FC
Opposition Manager: Andy Woodman. Matchday Team: Grant Smith, Deji Elerewe (Callum Reynolds), Omar Sowunmi, [c] Michael Cheek (Olufela Olomola), Louis Dennis (Levi Amantchi), Kamarl Grant, Corey Whitely, Jude Arthurs (Ashley Charles), Danny Imray, Idris Odutayo, Ben Thompson
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (12th)
Referee: Ben Atkinson
Attendance: 7,454 (963)

(19:47) Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]
(19.50) Gbode does well to dispossess the fullback and charges into the penalty area. He picks out Dieng who finds his effort blocked and ricocheting wide until it falls to Coleman who blasts it wide with the goal at his mercy.
(19.53) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Bromley FC: Dennis
(19.55) Ehmer goes down in the box. Huge Gills appeals but the ref waves it away.
(20.04) A driven cross across the 6 yard box flashes wide of the far post where any touch would surely have deflected into the net for a second goal for the visitors.
(20.12) GOAL! Gillingham 0-2 Bromley FC: Arthurs
(20.29) Players halt as they think the ball has gone out but it is allowed to be played back in. Thompson stabs it goalward between the legs of Morris and somehow it brushes his thigh and is cleared desperately from deep inside the 6 yard box.
(20.31) Nolan goes for goal directly from a corner and the 'keeper digs it from under his crossbar for another corner.
(20.32) 5 minutes of additional time will be played.
(20.36) Bromley clear a Gills set piece only as far as Max Clark who keeps his drive shot under control to the top right corner but it is well saved.
(20.37) Half time 0-2 [49:59]

(20.53) The second half kicks off. The Gills start the second half with a triple substitution.
(20.56) Jayden Clarke charges into the penalty area and goes flying but the ref gives the decision Bromley's way.
(21.01) Having made a triple half time change, Bonner prepares to bring on Nevitt.
(21.09) Brilliant save by the Bromley 'keeper to get down quickly to dig out an Andrews header.
(21.14) A Gills effort squirms free on the edge of the 6 yard box and it cleared. Had it fallen to a blue shirt, it would be a simple tap home. This second half has been all Gills' pressure deep in the Bromley half.
(21.17) Elerewe goes down inside the box but the ref also waves it away.
(21.24) GOAL! Gillingham 0-3 Bromley FC: Grant
(21.30) Thompson gets in a great shot which Morris saves well and sees ball go just wide of the post for a corner.
(21.31) Ehmer bundles into Sowunmi who goes down. Some shirt pulling looked present to but again the ref says no penalty.
(21.34) Penalty! Andrews draws a foul inside the box and this time it is given.
(21.36) Elliott Nevitt blasts the penalty high over the Rainham End bar!
(21.38) The game will conclude after 5 additional minutes.
(21.44) FULL TIME 0-3 [100:36]

Gills' League Position After Game: 14th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cewxp1n51pyt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhLhbIMIO0A

[CadburyMan]

Well that was a crock of s***e; 2 hours of my life I won't get back

[Garawa]

People have been complaining about games being the worst they've seen all season. Maybe they were boycotters because we've had far more terrible games in the last couple of seasons as we transitioned to the Gallinson reign.

However, that game was one of the worst ever. What was that team? No wonder we were so bad. I couldn't make out the formation and I don't think the players knew what to do either. Back to back festive games is not a time for experimenting but changing as little as possible so players can build understanding and partnerships.

Bonner needs to get the players he wants (unlikely in January as these will either be expensive or other teams cast offs) then keep a settled side. Rebuild, instill understanding and resilience in the side, buikd momentum and take that into next season with a more settled side

[lidbid46]

Or he could be replaced! Oh, he has been!