|
The 24 hours before the game saw the Gills bring in two loan signings. Wayne Brown signed on loan from Watford and went straight into the starting lineup at left back, while Trevor Benjamin drove down from Leicester City in the early hours of the morning of the game to sign on loan. He made the subs bench. Both players played their part in an amazing match at Priestfield.
The match started in a very lively fashion, with the Gills pushing the Hammers back and winning a corner in the opening seconds. From that moment on, Gillingham bombarded the West Ham defence with wave after wave of relentless attacks. Unlike in previous matches, the approach play varied from the longer direct balls over the top, to some neat interpassing through midfield. One such passing move crafted by Mamady Sidibe, Paul Shaw and Danny Spiller almost put the latter through on goal, with only a timely defensive clearance by Tomas Repka denying the Gills youngster a one-on-one with England keeper David James. The following attack saw Mark Saunders flatten James as the pair challenged for a Marlon King cross. The Gills had signalled their intent - and the Hammers simply had no answer.
The visitors were struggling to give Gills keeper Jason Brown any work at all during the first half - and the Gills defence were stretched just once in the opening period when Jermain Defoe managed to wrestle his way past Chris Hope on the edge of the penalty area. The England under-21 striker dribbled across goal and fell under pressure by Hope. There was shoulder to shoulder contact at worst and Defoe's theatrical fall and appeal was greeted with indifference by referee Armstrong, and by a torrent of abuse from the Rainham End, who took a dim view of the Hammers striker's dive.
Most of the fans in the ground felt that Defoe should have been booked for his penalty-area theatrics, but they needn't have worried as he made his way into the referee's notebook soon after. His late challenge on Nosworthy in front of the Medway Stand was spotted by the fans, but apparently not by the officials. The call for a yellow card for Defoe was yet again ignored, but the referee had no choice just thirty seconds later as Defoe finally received his long-overdue booking. His petulant kick out at Nosworthy as the Gills fullback cruised past left the referee with no option but to produce the yellow card. It could have been red later in the half, as Defoe's blatant show of dissent produced only a warning from the referee, who clearly wanted to keep all 22 players on the field. Ian Cox and Chris Hope effectively nullified the threat of Defoe and David Connolly - who before the game were generally regarded as the Division's best forward line - and Defoe's frustration was clear for all to see.
Despite the searing heat, the second half saw the Gills maintain the pace of the first - and the home team had the former Premiership side on the back foot in their relentless pursuit of the opening goal. Danny Spiller burst through midfield, only to be greeted by a forearm smash in the face by the Czech Republic international Tomas Repka. The former Fiorentina man reacted to the foul by trying to drag Spiller to he feet. His repeated baiting of of the Gills starlet and refusal to retreat ten yards resulted in the referee moving the free kick forwards 10 yards. With the ball placed left of centre, 25 yards out, a shot at goal was on the cards. Marlon King set his sights and rifled a screamer of a free kick around the wall and into the bottom right corner of David James' net. Priestfield Stadium erupted, the Gills players celebrated and the West Ham players looked shell-shocked. It was Gills 1-0 West Ham...and the goal had been a long time coming.
Rather than sitting back to hold on to their lead, the Gills drove on, keeping the Hammers on the defensive. West Ham's best attack came shortly after King's goal. Matthew Etherington burst through the centre and fired a left-foot shot inches wide of the far post. It was the Hammers' only real chance of the second half. It could and maybe should have been two nil midway through the second half as Mark Saunder produced a peach of a pass to send Mamady Sidibe clear of the Hammers' defence. The big Mali international skilfully turned past the outrushing David James, but his weak shot towards the empty net was cleared off the line by a relieved Tomas Repka, whose first touch nearly resulted in an own goal. At the other end, the Gills' defence were coping comfortably with the Hammers' attack - and the increasing frustration eventually became too much for Defoe as he eventually received his marching orders With eight minutes to go.
Following an offside decision against him, Defoe unleased a torrent of verbal abuse at the linesman, who asked the striker to calm down. Defoe found it impossible to keep his mouth shut and after one insult too many the linesman raised his flag and consulted with the referee. The ref produced a straight red card for foul and abusive language and West Ham's star striker departed the scene to jeers and waves from Gills fans all around the ground.
With West Ham down to ten men the Gills were in total control and scored a deserved second just sixty seconds after Defoe's departure. New boy Trevor Benjamin cut inside from the right flank, beating Wayne Quinn and Christian Dailly with ease before firing across goal. His cross-cum-shot hit the hapless Repka, wrong-footed James and nestled in the bottom corner of the net to seal the most memorable Gills league victory in the club's long history. All four sides of the ground were jumping, with seemingly every Gills fan in the ground singing along to "Tom Hark" and creating an awesome atmosphere. The noise level throughout was at a deafening level - and the players on the pitch responded with a faultless performance.
The players performed excellently, but special mentions must go to loan signing Wayne Brown and Marlon King. Brown had a hugely impressive game at left back, looking as solid in the air as he was on the ground. His distribution was simple but effective and his defensive play was impeccable. In all a great debut for a player whose arrival was greeted with raised eyebrows by some Gills fans. Marlon King showed just what a quality player he is in a fantastic display. With two highly-rated international strikers on the opposition in Connolly and Defoe, King outshone both by a distance as he turned in a Gills365 Man of the Match performance. His movement, energy and work-rate were excellent throughout and he was a constant threat to the West Ham defence. In truth the whole team performed magnificently - and were unrecognizable from the side that was defeated by Norwich earlier in the week.
All in all it was a great performance and a great result in front of a great crowd of more than 11,400 fans.