League Two Review: Gillingham give a thrashing and a Plymouth sacking
It has been another weekend of excellent football in the npower League Two. Plymouth continue to lurch from crisis to crisis, this week yet another defeat swiftly followed by the sacking of their manager. There were also goals galore as high scoring games dominated the league on Saturday. All of the action is assessed here in the latest instalment of Andrew Steele Davis’ League Two Review.
Let’s start at Edgar Road where there was a goal fest to be had. Gillingham, who had not won in four attempts before this game, taught Hereford, who had only scored six goals so far this season, a lesson in how to score as their side ran riot. New Gills signing Frank Nouble, Swindon fans may remember him from two seasons back, got the ball rolling with a goal on his debut before further strikes were added through Garry Richards, Danny Jackman, Chris Whelpdale, Stefan Payne and an own goal from Hereford’s Joe Heath. Sam Winnall’s late free-kick was scant consolation.
Gillingham’s performance duly earns them the honour of being named Team Of The Weekend while things continue to go from bad to worse for Jamie Pitman and his Hereford side. Pitman still insists he’s not a quitter and believes he can retain Hereford’s League status. We’ll wait and see…
Sticking with the same game, the Goal Of The Weekend has to go to Gillingham’s Danny Jackman for his stunning effort. His curling 30-yarder is a must watch and could well be a serious contender for goal of the season.
At Roots Hall, Plymouth Argyle fans could have been forgiven for thinking that they were in the middle of a very bad nightmare. Rooted to the bottom of the table with a single point and the ongoing financial trouble the club find themselves in, few would have begrudged Argyle a victory here. But Southend, of course managed by Plymouth hero – and how Plymouth could do with one of them right now – Paul Sturrock, saw a strong second half showing rewarded with goals from Liam Dickinson and Peter Gilbert to further extend Plymouth’s horrific start to the season.
Plymouth fans won’t feel much better today with the shocking news that Peter Reid had been sacked by Peter Risdale. A very poor decision considering the level of commitment that Reid had shown the club, even going into his own pocket to pay the club’s electrical bill.
AFC Wimbledon continue to go from strength to strength, this time beating an in form Cheltenham Town side and duly winning the Home Performance Of The Weekend Award. The Wombles have impressed since entering the football league for the first time in the club’s history and their win against the Robins was further evidence that they are comfortable at this level.
In the other results from the weekend, Crewe continued their rapid rise up the table with a 2-0 away victory at Accrington Stanley, Barnet were defeated 2-0 by Oxford, Bristol Rovers’ recent slump continued as they crashed to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Aldershot, Burton Albion are now unbeaten in four after a solid win against Swindon Town.
Crawley avenged their defeat to Swindon in midweek with an impressive 3-1 victory over Bradford, high flying Morecambe beat struggling Dagenham and Redbridge 2-1, Macclesfield earnt an impressive 3-1 home win over Northampton, Shrewsbury just edged Port Vale, wining 3-2 and Torquay and Rotherham United shared a six goal thriller.
Choosing our Player Of The Weekend has proved extremely difficult, but after much thought, Matt Richie of Swindon Town scoops this week’s award. Despite being on a losing side this weekend and not doing anything that would stand out for a neutral, his silky skill and intelligent play ran Burton ragged all game, particularly in the first half. Richie is proving one of the league’s best players all ready and if he can keep his current form up then Swindon can expect to be or thereabouts come the end of the season.
The Washbag 