A very young team started at Millwall due to the injuries to three of our second year scholars, but that did not stop us from flying out of the traps.
After only 5 minutes, Nathan Nyafli picked up the ball inside the opponents half and after evading two challenges, cut inside to fire low and hard inside the far post. A great goal, something that Nathan is capable of, but it was probably the worse thing to happen as it fired up the home side!
Millwall were always going to be a tough challenge and so it proved as they began to take control of the game. After 20 minutes, they broke down the right catching the Gills defence out of balance and the ensuing cross was turned into his own goal by schoolboy Steven Butcher, who could do nothing else in the situation.
The second goal was a poor defensive goal to give away to be honest given the nature of it. We defended the first corner really well, but the second cross was met with a free header at the far post, a result of our back four squeezing out without being aware of their marking responsibilities.
We played our usual 4-3-3 shape but were unable to play out constructively from the back because of the immense pressure the players were under from Millwall's strong, quick and physical side.
The third goal was conceded just before half time where they were able to turn us round. Their pace up top meant it was a race and unfortunately keeper Daren Hawkes made a decision to come and intercept and was beaten to it by their forward who calmly placed the ball past him into the goal.
All goals could have been avoided to be honest, but on the day I have no complaints about the result. Second half we played much better, competed well physically, and had a Callum Davies header cleared off the line and Nyafli should have done better with a volley from close range.
Some positives to come from the game for sure, especially second half, but we need to start thinking about being harder to beat, and that has been the focus on the training ground this week.
Team: Hawkes, Butcher, Evans, Davies (c), Parter,(Humber) Brown, Hessenthaler (Haysman), Dack, McKenzie ( Ford), Nyafli, Benniman.
