Gillingham 0-1 Norwich City - I wanted Dartford ace McDonald, reveals Stimson

Then all of a sudden it exploded into life.  On 37 minutes Luke Rooney (who had scored a stunning goal against Southampton at the weekend) shot narrowly wide when surely a pass to the unmarked Andy Barcham could have been more profitable!
 
On 40 minutes Julian's left boot saved the Gills as Tom Adeyemi got on the end of Chris Martins cut back.

Whilst within a minute at the other end Jens Berthal Askou couldn't have known a lot about Curtis Weston's drive (from Barcham's pull back) as the ball thumped into the defenders face as it seemed destined for the top corner. 

In an incredible end to the half Luke Daley raced clear from half way, and stayed on his feet as Julian came out to force him away from goal - for this the midfielder deserves so much credit as these days it seems common place for some players to go down after the merest of contacts giving the officials difficult and often unfair decisions to make.
 
The chances kept coming and on 43 minutes Norwich were guilty of missing he chance of the half. 

Jamie Cureton beat the offside trap down the right, and cut the ball back.  Stephen hughes completely missed the ball, but it ran onto Martin who, with the goal at his mercy, blazed wide!  

In stoppage time, it was the Gills turn to be denied - this time by referee Cook. 

Adam Miller (returning from injury) and Rooney exchanged passes on the edge of the box, releasing Miller who with Fraser Forster's goal at his mercy, seemed to be clearly pushed off the ball by Askou. 

The official looked to his assistant for help, but when non came, he waved the protests away! 

Asked afterwards about the incident, Miller confirmed that there was contact "There was no reason for me to go down when I had the chance to score was there?" he asked the post match Press Conference, a view shared by his manager. 

"I asked Adam why he went down, and he told me he was pushed off the ball"  Stimson said, "and when the referee doesn't get any help from his assistant... we just didn't get the break when we needed it!"
 
The second period began almost as slowly as the first, but McDonald's introduction and subsequent goal changed all that. 

Indeed within 90 seconds of scoring he former Dartford man should really have had a second only to blaze high into the deserted Brian Moore stand form almost the same position that he scored from.
 
Try as they might, the Gills couldn't get back into the game as the peppered the Norwich goal, and even did some of their defending (albeit inadvertently) for them. 

On 72 minutes John Nutter cut the ball back for Stuart Lewis (who was making a welcome return as a second half substitute for the firs time since pre season) to shoot first time, only to see his shot ricochet to safety off of Weston. 

Then on 82 minutes Miller let fly from 30 yards a shot that beat the flying Forster as well as the City keepers right post. 

Weston then pulled an effort wide after being set up by Mark Bentley (all this after Barcham had been left in a heap on the floor by what his manager was to call "a good old fashioned centre half's tackle!). 

In stoppage time the Gills fans thought that maybe their side had salvaged a penalty shoot out as Chris Palmers free kick beat Forster, but unfortunately for the home faithful it also narrowly beat the post too.
 
Afterwards a disappointed Stimson was left to continue to count his walking wounded. 

"I've never known injuries like this since I've been a manager, and I think the list has grown tonight," he said. 

"Jack Payne's come off with an ankle knock; Andy Barcham got thumped by a gold old fashioned centre half's challenge at the end; big Mark (McCammon) felt a tightening so that why we pulled him off, and we find out tomorrow what Danny Jackman's specialist thinks of he shoulder he dislocated at the weekend. 

“If we decide we operate now, we could be without him for two or three months!  Other clubs don't lose their first choice centre half (Simon King out until Christmas time); their centre forward (Simeon Jackson has upped his work rate, and may join the first team squad training later in the week), and a player that I've wanted to work with for some time (Jackman) all at the same time do they?"
 
Gillingham: Alan Julian, John Nutter, Garry Richards, Mark Bentley, Chris Palmer, Andy Barcham, Adam Miller (Jacob Erskine 82), Curtis Weston, Luke Rooney, Jack Payne (Stuart Lewis 63), Mark McCammon (Rashid Yussuff 63).
Subs: Kevin Maher, Tom Wynter.

Booked: Adam Miller 13, John Nutter 45, Curtis Weston 61

Norwich City: Fraser Forster, Stephen Hughes, Jamie Cureton, Gary Doherty (David Stephens 70), Chris Martin (Cody McDonald 61), Tom Adeyemi, Paul McVeigh (Josh Dawkins 77), Rhoys Wiggins, Luke Daley, George Francomb, Jens Berthal Askou.
Sub: Dan Kelly

Goal: Cody McDonald 65

Booked:  George Francomb 76

Attendance: 2,814
Referee:  Mr SD Cook
Assistants: Mr HW Lennard & Mr DS Margetts
4th official: Mr MF Thompson