Part 55: Chapter the Eleventh: Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final Live Blog!

Chapter the Eleventh: Live from Wembley, it's the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final on Sky Sports!
March 26, 2017

Preamble:

Welcome to the League Trophy final, sponsored by Johnstone's Paint! Lead free since 2015, honest! We've got a match up of League Two sides, with minnows Wrexham and Gillingham having outlasted fallen giants like Wolverhampton and Sunderland to reach the final today. The match comes as both teams are fighting for promotion, so it will be interesting to see how the managers take that into account when it comes to picking their sides. Gillingham skipper Calvin Richardson has said he's treating this as he would any other game, while the Dragons have made no bones about how much they want to bring the Trophy back to The Turf pub in Wrexham.

The other big story of this match for lower league bragging rights is the fact that some maniac has been busy the last couple of months taking out players from each team. Wrexham's manager, Scott Brown, whinged about injuries piling up in his press conference yesterday, but while Wrexham are missing three or four players* from their starting eleven poor benighted Gillingham will have five players out. Worse, Gillingham have two more players from their starting team out for the game, attacking midfielder Ismael Traore is with the Cote D'Ivore U20 team and fullback Tommy Blair is cup tied after coming over from Walsall during the January window.

Still, even a wounded Gillingham should be a match for Wrexham, who embarrassed themselves less than a month ago against a Lincoln team on their way out of the Football League. Will they triumph and lift the trophy for a second time, or will the Gills win a cup competition for the first time since Clement Atlee was implementing the NHS?

* Depending of course on the status of Michael Coulson, whose status Brown danced around at his press conference.

The Teams:

Gillingham, Treating this game like any other, with two youth team subs and one youth team starter: Karl Cunningham, Ian Bonnar, Jack Montgomery, Paul van Grinsven, Trevor Arnison, Bartolomeo Bianconi, Sam Wood (captain), Daniel Young, Noel Butler, Jim Griffiths, Jack Broad. Subs: Ed Sullivan, Andrew Dawson, Archie Butler, Graham Neill, Nathan Newton.

Wrexham, with a surprise Michael Coulson sighting!: Daniel Higgs, Daniel Thomas, Luke Reid, Stewart Lewis, Ashti Kadhim, Richard Cobb, Justin Bailey, Tony Price, Yohan Netala, and William Harrison (captain). Subs: Ioan Peters, Chris Todd, Neil Jenkins, Michael Coulson, Shaun Spilsbury.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Starting Whistle: And we're off!

2': The ball has been bouncing back and forth between the teams, neither has yet been able to sustain possession for verly long. Price is able to spring Thomas but three blue jerseys mug him inside the area, no penalty called. Jack Broad takes the ball well up the field and Luke Reid runs right by him! A huge mistake, but Broad can't make the Dragons pay.

3': Oh dear, a tough tackle by Ian Bonnar takes out Netala and injures him. It looks like he'll be able to play on, while Gillingham's defense packs the penalty area and clears a cross.

5': Another surging run from Broad as he earns a corner, which bounces around in front of the net before being cleared. William Harrison is one on one with Bonner now, but Bonnar tackles him from behind, another dirty play and already Gillingham's third foul in just four minutes.

7': It's clear that Gillingham is planning on parking the bus and hitting Wrexham on the counter attack, the question will be whether Wrexham can break them down without making a mistake. So far Wrexham has 66% possession but Gillingham have taken all three shots.

8': GOAL! Gillingham's Sam Wood finds himself unmarked in the area and scores! What a mistake by Wrexham! 1-0 Gillingham.

10': A foul by Reid gives Gillingham a great free kick, but Wrexham is able to clear the ball. They've been giving Wrexham repeated frights, while letting Wrexham waste possession.

12': Gillingham is playing rugby today, they've already picked up five fouls in just under 12 full minutes. This time it's on Sam Wood.

14': A Mr. Llynyrd Skinnerd of Wrexham writes disparagingly "This is exactly the reason we're never going to get anywhere. We're way too nice, and nice guys finish last. Look at Gillingham, playing good, pound your face into the wall football." As I copy that, Gillingham picks up their 6th foul, still no yellow cards.

18': Wrexham's more or less lost their possession advantage, and it's clear that Gillingham is the team that's more up for the match. A shot from Griffiths is only just parried by Higgs, and Wrexham's defense is shambolic.

20': John Paul Jones writes in response to Mr. Skinnerd "The phrase nice guys finish last was coined by Baseball coach Leo Durocher, who was one of the meanest, miserable bastards ever. He was so bad that one of the all time great players, Arky Vaughn, chose to sit out a year rather than play for him. If that's what it takes to win, I'm a proud loser." And with that, Harrison almost breaks one free but for a last second diving effort by Montgomery that concedes a corner. Wrexham can't make anything of it.

21': Gillingham gives up another foul, this one by Griffiths, to give Wrexham a free kick about 3 meters from the touchline. Bailey's cross is easily cleared however.

23': "I tuned in to watch a footy match with my boys, not a wild rumble, or whatever that wrestling nonsense is. What is wrong with today's players?" gerns Amanda Moncton. It's true, Gillingham are on pace for a whopping 28 fouls, and yet not a single yellow card has been shown. Meanwhile, Wrexham has stabilized and looked better defensively. And then Griffiths commits another foul. 8 in just under 24 minutes.

28': What's shocking is just how badly Wrexham has been outplayed today, Gillingham has seven shots on goal to Wrexham's one. Wrexham's fast paced route one offense has been completely ineffective so far.

29': Guess what Gillingham just committed? If you said anything other than a foul, shame. That's nine now in less than half an hour. Still no yellow cards, the Ref must assume that boys will be boys.

31': Every time Wrexham seems to be setting up some nice play, they get fouled. Gillingham seems to have picked a great tactic given the laxity of the ref in handing out yellow cards. We're on pace for thirty fouls in a single game by Gillingham. Still no change in the score however.

33': The ball rattles around in the Wrexham box for what seems like an eternity before it's finally cleared. Wrexham are able to earn a corner, but are still sitting on just one solitary shot when the corner is easily cleared.

37': A man signing off on his email only as "Stronk" tells me to quit talking about the fouling. "Who ain't kicked a tosser that beat em on the pitch in the nards? It's good proper English decorum." Stronk must be loving this game, as Gillingham adds two more fouls to their total with Jim Griffith's third of the match.

39': Wrexham is frankly lucky to even be in this game, Gillingham could easily be up by four right now.

41': I've just gotten a text from Stronk, I'm not sure how he has my mobile number, that says "srsly quit it about the fouls wanker. u suk." He's an exceptional specimen whoever he is.

43': Wrexham almost strike lucky when a pass goes beyond the Gillingham defense, but Harrison isn't quite able to get to it in time.

45': We'll have two minutes of stoppage time, and if I were the players I'd surreptitiously put some earplugs in right now as Brown looks furious on the sidelines.

45'+2: Higgs makes a briliant save on a shot from 35 meters out by Young, and Wrexham is still only a goal down. And that's the halftime whistle. It's been all Gillingham so far, but it's still just 1-0.

Halftime Thoughts: Gillingham are clearly inside Wrexham's head right now. Wrexham haven't been able to string together any sort of attacking movement thanks to the American gridiron football display put on by their opponents. It's a telling sign that the side that has fewer shots than fouls at the half is actually Wrexham, with only one shot against three fouls, compared to fourteen shots and fouls each from Gillingham. Given the referee's reluctance to show any cards I'm expecting that to continue, even a McLaren can't go very fast if there's speed bumps that force them to a near halt every 50 feet.

45': Lets see if Wrexham can turn this game around, they've been well and truly schooled by the Gills so far today. The whistle starts the second half, and Gillingham quickly takes possession.

49': Wrexham have clearly decided that the long ball isn't there for them today, and are playing a much less direct game. It pays off in their second shot of the game when Thomas feeds Harrison, and only a diving stop by Cunningham keeps the match from going level. Corner to Wrexham.

50': GOAL! Bailey delivered a perfect corner kick to the waiting head of Luke Reid! Tie game! 1-1.

55': Llynyrd writes again to say "I'm glad that those Gillingham lads have stopped fouling so much. It's much more pleasant a game to watch." And just then Gillingham fouls again, though it does appear that they've eased off their bloodlust since the half.

57': A huge error by Wrexham goes unpunished once again, Broad finds himself all alone with the ball and shoots it straight at Higgs.

58': A yellow card for Ian Bonnar. It was for his fifth foul of the match.

59': It looks like Michael Coulson is off the bench and warming up. Is he really going to be coming into the game?

60': Yes, yes he is. He's coming on for Netala, who never quite shook off that early knock.

61': Stronk texts "only girly men are hurt in football. u want sum m8?"

63': Andrew Dawson has come on for Trevor Arnison. Arnison acquitted himself quite well today, but clearly the manager wants more experience out there in the final half hour of a cup final.

65': William Harrison has been nearly invisible all game, and when he has appeared it's usually when he's turning the ball over to the other team. Not an inspired performance by the 20 year old wearing the captain's armband.

69': PENALTY! Ashti Kadhim is called for a foul on Jack Broad at the very edge of the area. A soft penalty, shocking that it's been given. Referee Neil Swarbrick has not covered himself in glory today.

69': GOAL! Jack Broad scores from the spot and puts Gillingham back on top!

72': A horrific pass back to Cunningham goes beyond the byline and results in two successive Wrexham corners, neither of which amount to anything.

75': Oh, I've realized who Stronk is. It's my mother. That last text was asking if I wanted some dim sum. Explains so much about my life, really.

79': Wrexham have thrown themselves into the attack but can't show anything for it. With just 12 minutes of regulation remaining they need to step up if they want a chance to claim the cup.

80': Spilsbury will be coming on for Price, with Harrison dropping back into the left winger position. The last few minutes have been all Gillingham, though, they sense the blood in the water.

81': Jenkins is coming on for Kadhim, who may have cost his team the game with that penalty in the 69th minute.

83': Gillingham don't seem prepared to just sit back and take the pressure, they're continuing to fight for another goal. It's resulted in Wrexham being unable to create much offensive pressure late in the game.

85': Another curious offsides call against Harrison, who had at least two defenders before he would actually be offsides. It's getting down to desperation time for Wrexham.

87': Bailey unleashes a volley from long range that just goes over. Wrexham is pressing, while Gillingham is remaining composed. Has the pressure gotten to the lads from Wales?

88': Oh and another clear chance from Harrison is saved. That might be it for Wrexham.

90': There'll be 3 minutes of stoppage time.

90+1: Harrison is all alone on the far left side of the pitch with plenty of time to cross the ball, but he can't get it to Spilsbury.

90+3: Harrison is onside to the goal in the dying seconds of the match and takes the shot... and puts it into the side netting. Game over, 2-1 Gillingham! Congratulations Gillingham! Enjoy that trophy!