Sky Bet League One
Saturday 3rd August 2019
In a battle of newly-appointed managers taking charge of their respective clubs for the first time, Steve Evans’ Gillingham dictated things during the first 45 minutes and Darren Moore’s Doncaster Rovers dictated things in the second period.
Annoying if you’re sat behind a goal at one end of the ground (as all the action is down at the opposite end), but regardless of which side you support or where you were sat today, it was plain to see that a point apiece was the fairest result.
Both sides are tellingly at a similar conundrum right now when it comes to out and out attacking options with ex-goalscoring threats John Marquis and Tom Eaves having left for pastures new in recent weeks.
And it showed as a clinical, cutting edge was lacking and prevented both sides from claiming a win to make a ‘perfect start’ to coin an old cliché.
Where improvements are evidently needed, nonetheless, the reality is that neither side are probably too far away from the product which will compete for a large chunk of the season - and I certainly don’t think either team will be flapping wings and having problems, struggling to get results, once the nights have drawn in and the table takes shape.
I’ve never really been a massive fan of the opening day as a lot of emphasis is placed on the first game with a lack of foresight to other upcoming games after it, but for whatever reason this year feels different with the longer-term feeling better than any potential short-term gain.
Bathed in sunshine but not ridiculously warm like last week, today was a lovely afternoon to be watching football and, following a tepid opening, the Gills began to get on the front-foot as they attacked towards the noisy South Stand in the first half.
They didn’t fashion too many openings but with Rovers’ midfield duo of ‘Two Bens’ (Whiteman and Sheaf) initially struggling to get to grips with the game, the Gills saw plenty of the ball in the attacking third and Ian Lawlor was forced to make stops from Mikael Ndjoli and Brandon Hanlon, whilst Regan Charles-Cook had a goalbound effort blocked inside the six-yard box.
Eventually, Kent’s only professional Football League side did make a breakthrough with Alex Jakubiak slotting home after Ndjoli squared the ball to him in a central position.
At this point, even though Rovers were struggling, it wasn’t necessarily a bad time to concede as it now meant Gillingham’s game-plan would alter given they’d got the goal they were craving.
Donny just couldn’t afford to concede again and that’s what nearly happened when Charles-Cook horrifyingly exposed Alex Baptiste with a quick turn of pace on the byline, but saw his eventual effort saved by Lawlor.
A game-changing, monumental momentum shift then occurred during first half injury-time as Donny drew level thanks to Kieran Sadlier’s ferocious volley into the roof of the net from eight yards following James Coppinger’s intelligent lofted pass released him.
That was the turning point as Rovers stamped their dominance on things after the break and looked every inch more positive and confident, with Alfie May, in particular, working his knackers off!
Madger Gomes, who’d been quiet up to now, was off-target with one effort and then went closer to scoring with a deflected attempt that had the Gills defence in a momentary panic.
May then drew a strong save from the visiting ‘keeper in a separate attack before Barry Fuller (one of those players who seems like he’s been around forever) cleared the danger.
As the half wore on, it became apparent that Evans’ side would be slightly the more content to come away with a point and Jack Bonham had to make one final save, late on, to ensure things did finish honours even.
Overall, as said previously, there’s still plenty to work on and inevitable signings that have to be made by both sides but the eternal ‘Doom Merchants’ shouldn’t be too concerned.
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