We look ahead to Saturday's fixture
MORECAMBE v GILLINGHAMnpower League Two
Saturday March 16 2013
Globe Arena
Kick-off: 3.00pm
TEAM NEWS…
In this afternoon’s press conference Gills boss Martin Allen said a couple of players were 50/50 due to knocks but he was not naming names.
Charlie Allen is due to see a consultant about his wrist injury this afternoon [Thursday] and if he gets the all-clear he could return to the squad ahead of the weekend’s fixture. However Myles Weston (ankle) will not be available although he is due to step up his training.
Andy Parrish lasted just 43 minutes on his return to action for the Shrimps against Northampton on Tuesday following a thigh injury and may be a doubt but goalkeeper Barry Roche will be available for selection having sat out the Cobblers fixture through a one-match suspension.
THE SEASON SO FAR…
In midweek a late Northampton goal saw Morecambe take a point from a 1-1 home draw which left the Shrimps lying 13th in the League Two table having taken 50 points (13 wins and 11 draws) from their 38 games.
Speaking after the game boss Jim Bentley said “Overall I think a 1-1 draw was the fair result. We could have had a couple more goals and they could have had one or two more.
“But that’s the way it was. We certainly gave them a game and I want to give the Morecambe supporters a team they can be proud of and that’s what they got today.
“We’re up to our first target of the season, 50 points, with a fifth of the season to play and hopefully we can continue to build and move forward.”
Previously at the Globe Arena this season Morecambe have won seven and drawn eight of their 19 home fixtures, just Exeter City (3-0), Fleetwood (4-0), Plymouth Argyle (3-2) and Port Vale (3-1) have returned home with all three points.
LAST TEN GAMES…
There is little between the two sides when you look back at the last ten League Two outings. The Gills have attained 18 points from five wins, three draws and two defeats, while during the same period Jim Bentley’s side have gained just one point fewer.
Gillingham WLWDWWLDWD
Morecambe WWLWWDLWLD
LEADING GOALSCORERS…
The goalless draw at Exeter in midweek meant there was no change to the Gills top scorers with strikers Danny Kedwell (12) and Deon Burton (11) continuing to lead the way.
Former Manchester City striker Jack Redshaw currently tops the Shrimps scoring chart, his goal on Tuesday evening taking his tally to 14 goals for the season. He is followed by the experienced Kevin Ellison (12), Richard Brodie and Andrew Fleming (both on six) while Lewis Alessandra and Gary McDonald have netted four apiece.
EARLIER THIS SEASON…
Back in November a last gasp stunning effort from substitute Deon Burton effort ensured a 2-1 deserved victory over the Shrimps following a thrilling encounter here at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Following a number of attempts it was Lewis Montrose that finally put the Gills in front with 37 minutes on the clock. A Danny Jackman free-kick saw Adam Barrett get a touch, keeper Barry Roche flapped, Nick Fenton failed to clear and it allowed the Gills midfielder to drill home.
The visitors got back into it after the break, Stuart Nelson had already denied Gary McDonald with a fine save before substitute Jack Redshaw equalised in the 69th minute following some good work by Kevin Ellison.
Martin Allen’s side then dominated proceedings but it wasn’t until just seconds before the final whistle that Burton struck. Matt Fish knocked a pin-point cross to the far post where the Gillingham striker controlled superbly before smashing the ball past a stunned Roche.
Gills: Nelson, Fish, Barrett, Davies, Frampton (Burton 76), Montrose, Vincelot (Allen 64), Whelpdale, Jackman, Strevens (Weston 45), Kedwell. Unused subs: Forecast, Essam, Lee, Birchall
Morecambe: Roche, Fenton, Reid (Alessandra 90), Wright, Brodie (Redshaw 67), Ellison, McCready, Drummond, Fleming, McDonald, Parrish. Unused subs: Threlfall, Parkinson, McGee, Arestidou
PREVIOUS MEETINGS…
There have been seven previous meetings with Morecambe since they won promotion into the Football League in 2008 and of these the Gills have won four and drawn two.
The first encounter, on October 11 2008, saw goals from Mark Bentley, Simeon Jackson (2), Mark McCammon and a Dave Artell own goal help the Gills to a 5-0 triumph here at Priestfield. Later that season a Curtis Weston effort completed the double at Christie Park.
Then in 2010-11 both games ended 1-1, Craig Stanley and Danny Spiller netting at the Globe in August while Phil Jevons and Cody McDonald were on target in the April return.
Morecambe’s only victory over the Gills came at home in October 2011, Garry Hunter and Kevin Ellison put the home side two-up before Frank Nouble converted a late consolation with a last minute penalty. In the return at the end of that season a game of relatively few chances at either end was settled by two Charlie Lee goals.
OFFICIALS…
Referee: Gary Sutton
Assistants: Martin Coy & Iain Siddall
Fourth Official: Paul Hodskinson
This is the Lincolnshire official’s second game involving Gillingham this season having previously been in charge of the 4-0 home victory over Bristol Rovers back in September.
He has refereed 27 games so far this season issuing 72 yellow and seven red cards.