Latics defeated at Gillingham

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 24 January 2015


UPDATED

Chaos and slapstick

Gillingham 3, Athletic 2


CHAOS reigned on and off the pitch as Athletic underlined exactly why the squad in its current shape will not squeeze into a play-off spot this season.

Athletic almost managed to recover from going two goals down after 14 minutes. Four goals were struck before the first quarter of the game had elapsed.

First the excellent John Marquis, a young but worldy-wise target man, wrought damage on Athletic's inexplicably dozy back-line.

That was only the start of the entertainment. A surreal circus had pitched up in this corner of the garden of England and the true slapstick was to follow.

One can only imagine what was going through eventual match-winner Bradley Dack's mind when he hacked twice at Connor Brown's heels as the full-back was heading towards nowhere dangerous.

Danny Philliskirk's penalty was poor, but as Stuart Nelson pushed out the tame effort by diving to his left, Liam Kelly was first on hand to race in and slot the rebound between the 'keeper's legs.

The equaliser was a well-worked move straight from the training ground. Athletic cleverly engineered a situation whereby full-back Bradley Garmston was forced to whack a bouncing bomb of a back-pass towards his own goal at a very awkward height.

The trap was set. Poleon waited for the inevitable contact between Nelson's kneecap and the ball, which rocketed 15 yards forward. The striker won the duel to roll the ball into an unguarded net.

It won't win any beauty pageants, but the strike represented the former Leeds player's first in the league for Athletic.

Lee Johnson's side showed real stomach to battle back after the horrific opening, andafter levelling matters should have led by half-time.

Poleon's superb flick to the influential Carl Winchester led to the creation of a gilt-edged chance for Mike Jones. The pitch didn't help the purity of the strike, but from 12 yards he should have done better than allow Nelson to save with his legs.

Athletic should have been approaching the second half with real intent. It didn't happen.

Athletic exerted some control, but vigour was absent in the final third.

Kelly did brilliantly to block a goalbound shot from Max Ehmer and just before Amari Morgan-Smith's header was cleared off the line by Cody McDonald, the captain was sure he should have won a penalty at the other end thanks to a handball.

Referee Andy Woolmer disagreed.

McGlashan's pace from the bench provided real impetus. After a corner was awarded to the home side, James Wilson's headed clearance was met by Dack. From the edge of the area, his shot took a deflection on its way in.

New man Jacob Mellis prompted and bristled with intent after coming on as a substitute. Despite Athletic's overall clear superiority, too few others before him did the same where it mattered.