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fan-of-mulligan · 11 months

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FOM BLOG: HOLLANDS & BLAIR 0-2 GILLINGHAM XI - PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY PRIOR TO 2023 / 2024 SEASON

My Thoughts On Hollands & Blair V Gillingham XI - First Match Of The 2023 / 2024 Season.

I arrived at Hollands & Blair’s Stadium at 6.30PM, and the stadium car park was already full, which suggested that this friendly could have a high turnout, I paid £5 on the turnstiles for admission, but unfortunately there was no match-day programme, and despite asking on several occasions, and I did keep asking and asking, there was unfortunately no team sheet, and without the team sheet, it makes writing this match report that much more difficult and challenging.

But one of the reasons why the car park was so full is because the younger age groups at Hollands & Blair were training on the pitch prior to Hollands & Blair V Gillingham XI, And this would not have been possible without the installation of a multi-use pitch, Because The Soccer Elite FA And Hollands & Blair ground-share The Star Meadow Sport Complex.

And not only do Hollands & Blair And The Soccer Elite FA ground-share the same stadium, But Gillingham’s U18’s will train every-day here, And Gillingham’s newly created B Team will also play competitive matches here as well, so the newly installed 3G Pitch will have four teams constantly using the pitch, and under-age groups can play and train on here prior to first team matches being played as well.

Hollands & Blair’s stadium has changed a lot since I was last here, the small seated stand has gone and a newly installed small seated stand was installed behind the goal, but that was unavailable to be used on Tuesday Night, the dugouts have switched to the opposite side, and new fences are set up behind both goals, and a new permitter fence goes all the way around the pitch, Unfortunately, there was no covered standing or seating area and given that it was absolutely chucked it down with rain (typical, first pre-season friendly in July and it rains) and that meant that we had no-where to take cover from the rain other then the bar.

I queued up to buy a small portion of chips and a can of coke for £3.50 from the refreshments stand, And I got speaking with a few regular Gillingham Supporters that I know, and we were talking about The Alfie May transfer rumours which have gone into over-drive over the last week or so, Charlton Athletic, Derby County, Gillingham and now Bristol Rovers have all expressed an interest in signing Alfie May, and the questions that need to be asked is how far away are Gillingham from Cheltenham Town’s valuation, because if we are not far off, then maybe a deal can be done, if there is night and day between the two valuations, then Gillingham perhaps need to look elsewhere, Does Alfie May want to drop down into League Two ??? - And how much money in-terms of wages do Gillingham need to offer to get this deal done, Because I have always been of the impression that for Gillingham to sign Alfie May, Gillingham would have to offer Cheltenham Town £400,000, and Alfie May will need to be offered a four year deal on £7,000 a week.

Now that is a lot of money and a long term contract for a player who is thirty years old, now Alfie May is a very good striker and he is scoring goals for fun for Cheltenham Town in League One, But are Gillingham looking at signing alternative transfer targets ??? Dipo Akinyemi has strongly been linked to Gillingham, other strikers include re-signing Aiden O’Brien on loan from Shrewsbury Town, Matty Taylor, Andrew Dallas and Joe Pigott has been released by Ipswich Town are various attacking options, And Gillingham can still sign good players who are unattached and it all depends on if Alfie May is willing to sign for Gillingham in League Two, and what will be the transfer fee and wages required to get the deal over the line ???

Neil Harris and Andy Hessenthaler both turned up to watch Hollands & Blair V Gillingham XI, And I never got to ask the questions regarding how will this B Team Structure work, do we need someone to manage this B Team and do Gillingham need to appoint a coaching staff to run this team, because the first team and youth teams will have there own coaching set up’s, but nothing has been mentioned regarding The B Team Coaching Set Up.

Someone I know mentioned that B Teams have no restrictions on the number of over-aged players who can play in B Team Matches, so it ties into playing players who need minutes from the first team, we can organise friendlies against teams like Brentford B, Other U21 Sides, Kent Non League Sides, and playing against local sides means that it costs less to run A B Team then A U21 Team, who have to play in a structured league system, There might be less restrictions on the number of substitutions for B Team Matches compared to U21 Teams playing in a league, But Gillingham have needed this second team in-between The youth team and first team for a long time now, This was one of the topics Neil Harris spoke about when he was first appointed as Gillingham Manager, and we have now implemented A B Team in-between the first team and youth team.

This Is How Gillingham Lined Up Against Hollands & Blair…… Smith, Orji, Giles, Woodliffe, Trialist, Bayliss, Waldock, De Wilde, Macarthur, Sithole, Heasman - The players who’s names I recognise in this squad are Ike Orgi, Alex Giles, Matt Macarthur and Ronald Sithole, we really could have done with a team sheet for this pre-season friendly, I have seen Bayliss’s name mentioned a few times for the youth team, but cannot remember his first name.

And just as the teams lined up on to the pitch ready for kick off, I took my position standing down the side of the pitch opposite the dugouts as both teams get the first pre-season friendly for The 2023 / 2024 Season underway - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!

FIRST HALF:

And within the first minute of the match, Gillingham had a free kick on the edge of Hollands & Blair’s Penalty Area, And Matt Macarthur’s effort on goal from the resulting free kick deflects out of play for A Gillingham Corner.

Hollands & Blair get through down the right flank, and a low cross across the face of goal required last ditch defending from Gillingham to prevent the hosts from opening the scoring, and after that passage of play, Gills are penalised for handball by our number three on the edge of our penalty area, And Hollands & Blair have been awarded a free kick in a very good position on the pitch, And from the resulting free kick, Gillingham just about survived and managed to clear our defensive lines when we thought Hollands & Blair were going to score - set plays is how I can see Hollands & Blair getting themselves on the score-sheet given the inexperience throughout Gillingham’s match-day squad in this pre-season friendly.

Matt Macarthur’s effort on goal was saved by Dan Ellis in goal for Hollands & Blair, And down the other end of the pitch, Hollands & Blair again attack down the right flank, and again whip in a low dangerous cross which really should have been capitalised on and Gillingham thankfully preserve the score-line at 0-0, But this is how Hollands & Blair are creating there best goal-scoring opportunities, by attacking down there right flank.

Gillingham had a half chance to open the scoring when Matt Macarthur looked to get on to the end of a long ball over the top, but there was just a bit too much pace on the ball and Dan Ellis was able to gather the ball inside his penalty area.

I Think Alex Giles was wearing number six for Gillingham, because it was his defensive header which cleared a dangerous in-swinging cross from the hosts, Gillingham were then awarded a free kick in a decent position on the pitch when Matt Macarthur was fouled, and from the resulting free kick, Matt Macarthur’s effort on goal was blocked by Hollands & Blair’s defensive wall.

Gillingham then had three great opportunities in quick succession to open the scoring, ONE: Ronald Sithole’s fiercely driven effort rises over the crossbar with Dan Ellis beaten in goal for Hollands & Blair TWO AND THREE: Jimmy Heasman’s effort on goal is saved by Dan Ellis, and the follow up effort from Ronald Sithole was also saved by Dan Ellis, when we thought that Gillingham had opened the scoring.

But despite this recent passage of play where Gillingham are in the ascendency, Hollands & Blair were awarded a free kick in a very good position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Smith in goal for Gillingham makes an excellent save to prevent Hollands & Blair from taking the lead.

But Gillingham are continuing to put Hollands & Blair under pressure as Ronald Sithole’s cross is cleared out of play for a corner, Matt Macarthur’s cross from the resulting corner kick is cleared and Jimmy Heasman is on to the loose ball, And Jimmy Heasman whips in a dangerous high and hanging cross towards the far post which is too high for anyone to get on to the end of, and Ike Orgi times his challenge to perfection to prevent Hollands & Blair from hitting Gillingham on the counter attack.

Gillingham open the scoring after twenty seven minutes with a fantastic goal, Matt Macarthur charges down a defensive clearance and the loose ball breaks to Harry Waldock, And Harry Waldock works his way into a shooting position before curling the ball into the top right corner, and there is nothing that Dan Ellis in goal for Hollands & Blair can do about that - HOLLANDS & BLAIR 0-1 GILLINGHAM XI

That goal from Harry Waldock has capped off an impressive performance from the young central midfielder, and the player playing alongside Harry Waldock in central midfield has also been noticeable with his own performance, certainly a player who likes to get stuck into the tackle, win the ball and drive Gillingham forwards, also, that goal has given Gillingham a deserved lead given the chances created by Gillingham in the first half so far.

Hollands & Blair had the chance to level the scoring when a driven effort on goal narrowly clears the crossbar with Smith well and truly in-between the sticks, And after that effort on goal from Hollands & Blair, Gillingham were awarded a free kick when Matt Macarthur was fouled outside the penalty area, and from the resulting free kick, Matt Macarthur’s cross was cleared, and in a separate passage of play, an over-hit pass from Gillingham saw the ball go out of play for A Hollands & Blair Goal-Kick.

Hollands & Blair create two great goal-scoring opportunities, and again, the hosts look strong down the right side, this time getting through to the byline, and the low cross is blocked, then blocked again and Hollands & Blair try to create a decent opportunity from the second phase of the same attack before Ike Orgi times his challenge to perfection and just boots the ball clear, better decision making in the final third, and Hollands & Blair would have equalised for 1-1.

And down the opposite end of the pitch, And Jimmy Heasman’s low cross almost picks out Ronald Sithole and last ditch defending from Hollands & Blair kept the score-line to 1-0, and in a separate goal-scoring opportunity, Gillingham almost doubled there lead to 2-0 when Ronald Sithole’s low effort towards goal was turned around the near post by Dan Ellis, who has made a fantastic save to keep Hollands & Blair in this match.

But In The Forty Third Minute Of The Match, Gillingham did double there lead, Ike Orgi and Ronald Sithole try to link up down the right, but Hollands & Blair manage to get the ball partially clear and number four passes the ball to number six for Gillingham, who passes the ball down the line towards Ike Orgi, who takes a touch to set himself, And Ike Orgi whips in a fantastic cross and Jimmy Heasman headers the ball into the back of the net from close range to double Gillingham’s lead to 2-0 - HOLLANDS & BLAIR 0-2 GILLINGHAM XI.

And 2-0 perhaps reflects on the chances that Gillingham have created throughout the first half, but 2-0 should have been 3-0 moments later, a deflected effort on goal from Gillingham hits the top of the crossbar, and Ronald Sithole should have scored the re-bound for 3-0, and how Ronald Sithole has not scored I have no idea, and the final noteworthy moment of the first half was a free kick awarded to Hollands & Blair which didn’t lead to a goal-scoring opportunity for the hosts.VVVV

HALF TIME: HOLLANDS & BLAIR 0-2 GILLINGHAM XI

Gillingham deserve to be leading 2-0 at half time, and Ronald Sithole and Jimmy Heasman have both had opportunities to extend the lead further in Gillingham’s Favour, Ike Orgi has been high and wide on the right flank, providing Gillingham with plenty of width in Hollands & Blair’s final third, Matt Macarthur is a player with a lot of quality, low centre of gravity, can take a free kick and it was great to hear from Matt Macarthur himself that he has signed a new contract.

We found out from one of the coaches that Taite Holtam is training with the first team, and maybe Taite Holtam will play against Dover Athletic if Neil Harris decides not to play one of Jake Turner or Glenn Morris in goal on Saturday, In My Five Potential Goalkeeper Signings Blog LINK IS HERE - https://fan-of-mulligan.tumblr.com/post/718862873519144960/fom-blog-five-potential-goalkeeper-signings-for - I recommended five goalkeepers who Gillingham could sign to be our third choice goalkeeper, because goalkeepers do not count towards The 22 over 21 rule which is a rule that is in place for this season, And Gillingham have got the finances and resources available to have three senior first team goalkeepers on the books this season.

And with pre-season friendlies arranged against Deal Town, Sheppey United, Sittingbourne and Lordswood, Gillingham can take goalkeepers on trial and really take our time looking to sign another goalkeeper, But maybe, Taite Holtam will be promoted into the senior set up as our third choice goalkeeper and Neil Harris will have Glenn Morris, Jake Turner and Taite Holtam as our three senior goalkeepers this season, Because I would have thought we would have seen Taite Holtam in goal for Gillingham against Hollands & Blair.

I was speaking to Gary and Ben at half time, and one thing to take into consideration is the fact that one of our substitutes for the first team in league games, must be “ A Club Development Player” That means Sam Gale, Alex Giles, Ronald Sithole, Taite Holtam, Josh Chambers and Joe Gbode can be named on the bench, and because you have to have “A Club Development Player” on the bench, this makes The B Team Set Up that much more important, and Gillingham have to produce players for the first team, because one of your seven subs has to be a player that comes through the youth system.

And speaking of Joe Gbode, I imagine that Joe Gbode, Josh Chambers and maybe Lewis Walker will drop down to get minutes for Gillingham XI Sides, once we start to make additional signings over the coming weeks, And Joe Gbode is probably the type of player missing in this Gillingham XI Side, someone with physical presence who can play alongside Ronald Sithole and Matt Macarthur.

This is how Gillingham were going to line up for the second half against Hollands & Blair,,,,,,, Sullivan, Webster, Taiwo-Pratt, Trialist, Dobbs, Clark, Khumba, White, Murray, Garrett, Trialist - No idea on squad numbers for any of the players now, and we will be playing a complete guessing game on who is who, just like Bearsted Away on both occasions I have been there where Gillingham have sent XI Sides to Bearsted for pre-season friendlies - now that is one football stadium which is truly in the middle of no-where.

SECOND HALF:

The start of the second half was not as action packed compared to the first half, and the first noteworthy moment of the second half was Hollands & Blair winning a corner kick, which didn’t result in a meaningful opportunity for the hosts, but if Hollands & Blair are going to get themselves on the score-sheet, it is going to come from a set piece.

Gillingham had the chance to extend the score-line even further in our favour to 3-0, And Number 18 for Gillingham saw his fiercely driven effort on goal saved by Dan Ellis and parried wide and out of play for A Gillingham Corner, Gillingham created a half chance from the resulting corner kick, But Hollands & Blair managed to clear there defensive lines.

A Succession of throw on’s broke up the pattern of play combined with the terrible weather, even The Linesman in-front of us mentioned that it always rains when he has officiated at Hollands & Blair, But back to matters happening on the pitch, number 18 for Gillingham should have been booked for a very reckless challenge, and The Referee showed a lot of leniency not to book number 18 for a poor challenge and Hollands & Blair were awarded a free kick on the halfway line, and from the resulting free kick, a long diagonal cross-field cross was flicked on by A Hollands & Blair Player and Sullivan reacts to the knock-down quickly by getting to the ball first, good anticipation from the young Gillingham Goalkeeper.

Down the opposite end of the pitch, Hollands & Blair are penalised for a foul on Gillingham’s Number 19, And Gillingham are awarded a free kick in a decent position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Number 12 clips in a dangerous cross which is headed clear and out of play for A Gillingham Corner Kick, and although the corner didn’t result in a meaningful goal-scoring opportunity, we are seeing Gillingham continue to create chances despite making wholesale changes at half time.

The next passage of play see’s Gillingham on the front-foot, Gillingham’s Number Nine, gets on to the end of a decent pass out-wide, takes on the left back, but runs out of room by the byline, And Number Nine’s low cross goes out of play for a goal-kick at the near post, In a separate attack, Number 18 was almost on on goal for Gillingham, Before A Hollands & Blair player makes a crucial interception.

And down the opposite end of the pitch, Hollands & Blair had the chance to score for 1-2 down, and a dangerous cross towards the far post was just too high for any player to get on the end of, and the ball goes out of play for A Gillingham Goal-Kick, Gillingham had another opportunity to add to the score-line, When Number 15 For Gills see’s his effort on goal from inside the penalty area go narrowly wide of the far post with a curling effort which had Dan Ellis well and truly beaten - had that effort been on target, Gillingham would have scored for 3-0.

Hollands & Blair were looking to create a decent attacking opportunity, until Number 14 made a crucial interception in Gillingham’s final third, But after that challenge from Number 14, Hollands & Blair had a spell in the game where they were on top, winning a corner kick which didn’t lead to a goal-scoring opportunity, and a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch, which Hollands & Blair wasted by getting flagged for offside from there own free kick, Number 12 for Gillingham had to make a crucial challenge to knock the ball out of play for a throw on, And Number 14 for Gillingham was penalised for a foul.

A last ditch challenge from A Hollands & Blair Player diverted the ball out of play A Gillingham Corner Kick, and from the resulting corner, Number 14 whips in a dangerous cross which is flicked on and Dan Ellis makes an important save in goal for Hollands & Blair, But Gillingham continue to put Hollands & Blair under pressure by winning several corner kicks in quick succession, A Dangerous Gills cross from a corner kick is palmed away from danger by Dan Ellis for another corner kick, Number 12 for Gills whips in a dangerous cross which is headed clear and out of play for another corner.

And the onslaught continued, as another Gillingham cross was headed partially clear and away from goal, and Gillingham’s Number 7 works his way into a shooting position, before seeing his effort on goal brilliantly saved by Dan Ellis, who parried the ball wide and away from goal, And Gillingham are awarded another corner kick, which eventually lead to another corner kick, and finally Hollands & Blair were able to clear there defensive lines.

At the other end of the pitch, Hollands & Blair were awarded a free kick within shooting territory as Gillingham were penalised for a foul, and the effort on goal from the resulting free kick was brilliantly saved by Sullivan, who parried the ball wide and away from goal and out for a corner, and from the resulting corner kick, Hollands & Blair whip in a dangerous cross and Sullivan was well positioned off his line to gather the high and hanging cross.

And in a separate attack, Gills have to resort to desperate defending to clear the ball out of play for A Hollands & Blair Corner Kick, and from the resulting corner, and just like the previous corner kick, Sullivan was well positioned to gather the high and hanging cross, perhaps with Hollands & Blair having more experience and know how, Sullivan was told to claim any high ball inside our penalty area, And Hollands & Blair are pushing for a consolation goal as the hosts were awarded a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Hollands & Blair whip in another dangerous cross and Sullivan was well positioned to claim the high ball aimed towards the far post.

And the final noteworthy moment of the match was a well timed challenge on A Gillingham Player as Gillingham looked to counter right at the end of the match.

FULL TIME: HOLLANDS & BLAIR 0-2 GILLINGHAM XI

So Gillingham win our first pre-season friendly in preparation for The 2023 / 2024 Season, 2-0 could have been 4-0 with the chances created, But Hollands & Blair perhaps thought they could have got themselves on the score-sheet, especially in the first half when Hollands & Blair looked strong down there right side - Gillingham’s Left - I just wished the weather conditions were better then chucking it down with rain, especially as Hollands & Blair do not have any covered standing or seating stands at The Star Meadow Sports Complex.

And maybe with this joint partnership between Hollands & Blair, The Soccer Elite FA, and Gillingham Football Club, maybe all three sides can help fund some improvements to the stadium, Down the dugout side of the pitch, perhaps where the old seated stand used to be situated, perhaps a bigger seated stand which is raised above pitch level could be installed at the ground, and maybe down the opposite side where myself and a few other Gillingham Supporters were standing, a covered terrace could be put down that side of the football pitch, even if it ran halfway down and the goalposts do not have to be moved, obviously, ground maintenance and improvements cost money, but you do need some covered seats or standing to play in The SCEFL, and perhaps Hollands & Blair are working on the necessary ground improvements, as well as having additional capacity covered for when the club get larger league attendances.

And speaking of attendances, 325 is impressive, especially given the poor weather conditions combined with the fact that this match wasn’t really advertised much, Gillingham did tweet about this game happening prior to the match being played on Tuesday Night, But I don’t know how many people knew the game was going ahead, or, perhaps some people knew the game was going ahead, but are going to Dover Athletic away instead.

I should have asked one of Mark Moss, Andy Hessenthaler or Neil Harris how will this B Team get implemented, ask questions about specific staff appointments needed and required to run The B Team and more details regarding how this B Team will work between the first team and youth team, when I go to other XI Friendlies, hopefully I can find out more about this, Because Gillingham are playing against Lordswood, Sheppey United, Chatham Town, and Sittingbourne, and I am going to go to all four friendlies, there of course is the possibility that now that Gillingham have played Hollands & Blair in pre-season, Gillingham will announce key specific details of the partnership between both football clubs.

But if your a first or second year scholar, a player in the different age groups at the football club, or even first year pro’s like Alex Giles, Sam Gale, Ronald Sithole and Joe Gbode, then this is a good time to be at Gillingham Football Club as a young player, because with the implementation of A B Team in-between the first team and youth team, there is now a pathway into the first team, and your stepping up a level from The Youth Merit League to play for this newly created B Team, who can go from playing pre-season friendlies against other B Teams, to playing matches against Kent Non League Sides, to playing against other academy teams, or even a inter-squad friendly against Gillingham’s First Team.

And for young players who need to go out on loan, maybe there is the opportunity to go to Hollands & Blair, Chatham Town, Sheppey United and other Kent Non League Teams on loan to experience playing competitive first team football, And looking at the players playing for Gillingham last night against Hollands & Blair, there is a good crop of young players coming through, and now we can include the young players either in the youth team, go out on loan to gain first team football, play for the newly created B Team, or if they do really well, play for the first team, there is just more options for our young players now.

And there is also an opportunity for our young players to force there way into the first team for The Football League Trophy Matches, Gillingham will obviously be prioritising League Two, The FA Cup and The League Cup for the first team, But Gillingham should name the minimum amount of first team players required for Football League Trophy Games, and obviously, The Kent Senior Cup is used for youth development for Gillingham, But Neil Harris can give players game-time who are on the fringe of the first team in The Football League Trophy, and protect our key first team players for important league games.

In-terms of players who performed well, Ike Orgi, Ronald Sithole, Matt Macarthur, all stood out with there respective performances, But Harry Waldock capped off his own individual performance with a truly magnificent strike to open the scoring for Gillingham, and the midfielder who played alongside him in central midfield also impressed, And Sullivan in goal in the second half put in a commendable performance in-between the sticks, But Harry Waldock would probably be the player who would get Gillingham’s Man Of The Match for me, not just for the goal, which was excellent, but his performance in midfield just impressed us on the day.

#Gillingham #Hollands&Blair #Football

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