Dan Piner: Watford 2-0 Gillingham

Last updated : 08 February 2005 By Dan Piner

Smith: DP's man of the match
I left this match wondering quite how we didn’t get anything out of it, after missing 4 or 5 good chances in the second half. New signing Flynn was put in the starting line up, replacing Pouton, which surprised me slightly due to Pouts' good recent form.

The first half was poor by both teams, with few chances. Watford scored through Danny Webber after a good one-two and avoiding several challenges, although I’m sure Cox would feel he should have done better. Webber then shot and it cannoned in off Ashby. The Gills best chance of the half came in the last few minutes when Henderson was through on goal and just managed to prod his shot at goal, but Paul Jones made a decent save low down to his left.

The second half was a much better display by the Gills, but for some reason the chances just wouldn’t go in. Smith hit the bar with a thunderous shot from the edge of the area, and Henderson hit the bar with a looping header over Paul Jones. Gillingham also came close from Cox and Byfield who both missed from 3 yards out, and Jones also made another good save from Byfield and Roberts could not follow up with the rebound. To add to the misery, Watford scored in the dying minutes from a counter attack with a good finish by the young loan player Eagles.

It was a very frustrating game, and one in which it seemed the ball would never go in for Gillingham. It was a decent performance in the second half other than this though, with Flynn doing well on his debut and Paul Smith had an excellent game. Smith hit the bar, and got all round the pitch winning every tackle. He would be my choice for Man Of The Match.