Gills 0-2 Ipswich

[Garawa]

Not a bad game, we played some nice football but in truth didn't really test their keeper. Still a number of changes so I thought I would see who agreed with me on our new side!

FIRST HALF:
Stuart Nelson: Wasn't really called into action all that much and couldn't do a lot about the goal. You know what you get with Stuart!
Matt Fish: Played right back. Didn't give the attackers a lot to go on and a couple of times managed to win a throw when surrounded backed up to the corner flag. Against higher league opposition he looked like the player we remember a couple of seasons ago.
Leon Legge: Centre back. Won plenty of headers and cleared well. Stopped a chance with a last ditch tackle from behind when beaten with the attacker through on goal.
John Egan: Centre back. Looked solid along side Legge and the pair passed the ball about between them well. Perhaps could have been positioned better to stop the opening goal but it was one that caught the whole side cold after 70 seconds or so.
Gary Borrowdale: If needing to prove his fitness is still an issue then he still needs 90 minutes under his belt. He came off but didn't look tired and managed to outwit attackers a number of times and would be a useful addition. He was left behind for the first goal as the player was allowed to enter the right side of the box and slide a ball to the far post but other players were caught out as well. He didn't really get caught out much at all after that and looked strong.
Bradley Dack: Left wing (switched to right wing in the second half). Usual Dack. Like a dog snapping at the heels he didn't give them a minute. He lost the ball a few times and won it as well.
Jermain McGlashan: Right wing. Showed his impressive pace a couple of times but not really when attacking the goal all that much. Ipswich were aware of his pace and were able to negate much of it.
Jake Hessenthaler: Centre midfield. Usual Hessy. Found good passes and didn't look out of place against higher league opposition.
Doug Loft, Captain: Centre midfield (switched to left back in the second half). The best player for the Gills in my book. Commanding, not afraid to shoot and rarely lost the ball. At left back still showed plenty of energy and strength.
Danny Kedwell: Centre forward. Usual Kedwell. A bit of a pain for the opposition and gave out some banter. Becoming an un-droppable player in my opinion.
Antonio German: Centre forward. The most improved player with plenty of lovely touches and energy up front but needs to find an end product. None of the Gills players looked particularly dangerous up front however.

SECOND HALF:
Aaron Morris came on for Borrowdale and took up a defensive midfield role with Loft moving to left back. Looked able to play the ball out better than some we have had. Armine Linganzi had a good game. Strong hold up and neat long passes meant I saw more of him in this game than any of last season. Liked the look of Luke Norris who joined Cody McDonald as the front pairing. Quick and nimble he got himself into great positions and will certainly score goals when he settles in. By contrast, Cody had very little impact impact in the game apart from one key pass. Brennan Dickenson never really got a chance to show what sort of pace he has and will probably have better games but still looks a good acquisition. Barrett and Davies replaced Legge and Egan and both looked as you would expect.

2-0 was a fair result and a more settled side but have faired better.