Off to a flyer!

Last updated : 06 August 2006 By Simon Head

Deano: lively prospect scored the crucial second
When I spoke to some of my fellow Gills fans in the Blues Rock Cafe before the match the general view was one of negativity. Everybody knows the club is financially on its arse - an the news of the club getting its electricity cut off by EDF the other week certainly didn't help either. Add to that possibly the most uninspiring set of pre-season games in many a year and it was no surprise to hear fans saying how little they were looking forward to today's game. Thankfully the players weren't feeling the same - and a superb team performance gave us an opening-day win against a strong Huddersfield Town side.

Our flying winger Matty Jarvis scored a superb individual goal on the breakaway midway through the second half, and the lead was doubled by pin-sized newbie Dean McDonald shortly after. We made a good side look very ordinary through a combination of hard-work, passing football (halleluyah!) and some decent quality finishes.

The only downside was the final ten minutes, when we went all defensive and sat back. It's an age old problem that has cost us countless goals, and points, down the years - and it cost us a goal today, too. We sat back, allowed Huddersfield to attack us, and they scored a very scrappy goal, with Gary Taylor-Fletcher tapping in from close range.  We need to cut that out of our game, but in fairness that was the only real negative from today's game.  We were up against a supposedly serious promotion candidate and we totally outplayed them from start to (nearly the) finish.

Overall, the performance was really something to be encouraged about. The work rate, the change in philosophy and the fact that we beat one of the sides fancied for promotion all adds up to a cracking start to the season.

Hopefully that's just the first win of many this season. Next up, it's Brighton away on Tuesday night. I can't make that one due to work commitments, but it would really be a great start to the season if we could grab an away win at the Withdean. We didn't win away for months last season. To start with a win this season would be a massive fillip as we look to challenge at the top end of the table, rather than the bottom end…