Jepo:"Every man & his dog knows it was a penalty"

By Jack Nolan
March 4 2007

Gillingham were held at Priestfield by Blackpool in game that saw both sides angered by the officials performances. Goals from Dean McDonald and Andrew Crofts secured a point for The Gills but Gillingham captain Mike Flynn saw his spot kick saved.

Gillingham.2.2.Blackpool
Priestfield Stadium
Coca-Cola Football League One

Gillingham's recent form has turned Gillingham's season into a relegation dogfight and with both sides needing the points, it was bound to be an interesting game.

The Gills had an early blow on Saturday with the news that Matt Jarvis had failed a late fitness test, and Jarvis may even miss next Saturday's visit of Crewe at the Priestfield Stadium.

The Gills took the lead within ten minutes, when Dean McDonald found Gary Mulligan on the left who cut back inside and shot with his effort looking goal-bound, Dean McDonald was there to head into a half open goal just to make sure.

The Gills only enjoyed their one goal advantage for a few minutes when woeful defending allowed Andy Morrell to head goal wards only for his effort to hit the crossbar, but Sancho failed to clear and after a mix-up between the Trinidian and on loan goalkeeper Romain Larrieu, Ben Burgess took advantage to fire his side level.

The Gills were dominating the game and got their reward ten minutes from the interval. Gary Mulligan's goal-bound effort was headed clear by Blackpool defender Danny Coid only for Andrew Crofts to latch onto a good corner kick by Nicky Southall to ensure that The Gills went in at half-time a goal up.

Five minutes was played after the restart when The Gills had the opportunity to increase their advantage. Danny Spiller was brought down in the box only for Mike Flynn - who has been so reliable from the spot in a Gills shirt - to see his weak effort from the spot saved by Blackpool 'keeper Paul Rachubka.

Blackpool came within millimetres of equalising when a David Fox corner kick wasn't dealt with allowing Jackson to head at goal and with Larrieu in no-mans land, Nicky Southall was in the right place at the right time to clear off of the line to keep The Gills in front.

Referee Mr. Deadman and his officials didn't appear to be having the best of games and Mr. Deadman gave a crucial decision on the hour mark when he gave Blackpool a free kick after Mark Bentley was adjudged to have fouled Adrian Forbes but Bentley appeared to get the ball. Then, much to the anger of Ronnie Jepson and the Priestfield faithful, Fox curled in a stunning effort to equalise for The Seasiders.

Mr. Deadman was centre of attention once again when he denied The Gills a second penalty ten minutes from time when Danny Jackman appeared to be brought down inside the box, only for Deadman to book Jackman for diving. Then, Deadman denied The Gills another penalty shout when Danny Spiller appeared to have been taken out inside the box, only for the referee to somehow wave away the appeals.

The game ended all square with the officials being booed off by both Gills and Blackpool fans at full-time. The Gills however face Crewe next at home hoping to get one step closer to ensure their League One status next season.

----

Views

Ronnie Jepson

"The penalty that we missed, you have got to be brave enough to step up and take a penalty. Of all the times that we wanted him to put it in, it was today to go on and make it three-one and make the game safe. It was a big turning point in the game. Their heads would've gone done. "Flynny" has hit it at a good height for the keeper and it has given them a lift. He took the responsibility though so fair play. If that goes in, we go on to win the game comfortably but it wasn't to be.

"I spoke to Brent Sancho at half time and he said the ball has hit him in the midriff and he couldn't get it out to clear it. Their lad has come in and scored it. That just about summed our day up today. It was a fantastic strike from their lad for the second goal but our keeper hardly had a thing to do. Their keeper was certainly a lot busier.

"To then have a stonewall penalty turned down, towards the end, it was a penalty and I don't have to look at that on the video. The referee and linesman are in great positions and maybe as they gave us one earlier and a couple of free kicks that were dubious to say the least, maybe they decided there that they didn't want to give it to us. I told the ref what I thought and that it was a penalty. The linesman was giving the little things, the little tugs and that, but never saw what I thought was a big decision. He must have had somebody blocking his way. It was a penalty. Every man and his dog knows it was a penalty. It's gone now.

"We kept going to the end and maybe one or two other things could have dropped for us. I have to give the boys credit as if we keep playing like that; we'll be okay. We got a point, a good point, but, overall, I think we deserved three points. Sometimes you can look for things and try to analyze things but all in all today, we never got the rub of the green. We never got the big decision and that is the bottom line.

"It was a good team goal for the first one. Danny Spiller has come in. He's had a few personal problems but has settled down now. He's come back in and shown a lovely appetite for it today. We have got Ben Chorley, Clint Easton, Duncan Jupp and Matty Jarvis missing, that is a big chunk of our squad. The lads could have felt sorry for themselves today and made excuses but they never and went out there and showed that maybe they are worthy of a place in the team. "Spills" was smashing out there today, alongside Andy Crofts who was back to the old "Crofty" that we all know. It was a good team performance, with lovely work-ethic, and we just didn't get the breaks.

"Dean McDonald and Gary Mulligan did well; you know what you are going to get out of "Mullers". I think the ball was going in but Dean being the poacher that he is, and I can't blame him for it, he has stuck it in there. I am pleased for him but he knows that I need more from him in terms of getting around the pitch. We kept getting the ball forward and into wide areas so I didn't think there was anything to chance. My two strikers were doing well. They have got two pretty good wide men so I couldn't narrow it to three in midfield.

"Obviously Matty Jarvis is a miss but we are not a one-man team. We have got a squad of players here. They are all important and have got an integral part to play in the remainder of the season. "Juppy" is a miss, as is "Easty" and "Chores". They give you different options. The lads out there today gave me their all, 110 per cent and never shirked a thing or made excuses for themselves, and I would like to thank them for that. The lads that came in today, they did well so now it is up to the other to try and get the shirt off them.

"The crowd were fantastic today. The support was fantastic and I believe that they really help the lads. We need that, especially at this stage of the season. The Rainham End, they never stopped singing and I thank them for that because I know how much the players appreciate it and the lift that it gives them."

---