City turn pale at the Gills

How not to perform against a land of the giants team brought about a jarring tumble for York City.

York City goalkeeper Bobby Mimms punches clear under pressure from the scorer of Gillingham's second goal, Robert Taylor

It was as if for the first hour of their annual pilgrimage to the Priestfield Stadium that City had opened the instructions and then done the complete opposite.

Gillingham's strengths were always obvious. A potent pairing in Carl Asaba and Robert Taylor and a burly back-line whose prime qualities were height and hustle.

So what do City do to maddening and fatal distraction?

They commit cardinal gaffes that allow the Asaba-Taylor axis to increase their goals ratio and also opt for a lump-it-up-front supply that Fowler and Owen would have struggled to make anything of, let alone RichardCresswell and Rodney Rowe.

The outcome was obvious for all but the time-span between the Gills' second and third goals. In between then City hopes rose because they took the 'agri' out of agricultural and started to spray the ball tidily.

City, however, never had the same momentum once Gillingham confirmed their two-goal superiority with a third and telling strike in the final minutes.

On a heavily-sanded pitch in which the goalmouth resembled a beach, City were all at sea after beginning briskly.

The Gills strangely sat back, despite taking the lead through merchant of menace Carl Asaba.

His 16th goal of the season in the 17th minute owed much to dithering.

Nicky Southall's cross high and deep should have been destined for Bobby Mimms' gloves. But he stayed stood still, as the old comedian Hilda Baker might have said, and Tony Barras had to intercede but was off-balance, his labouring header lollipopping to Asaba.

Initial control was awry, foxing Barry Jones, but Asaba reacted cobra-like to rifle the ball low into the net. Rather than trouble a lumbering home back-line susceptible to pace and sharp delivery, the Minstermen launched a series of high balls laced by hope. They were meat and drink to the Gills.

Bizarrely, City were playing to the home side's strengths as expounded by manager Alan Little in the pre-match build-up.

So untroubled were Gillingham they were content to play within themselves, yet almost without trying they could have finished the game by half-time.

Asaba's predatory partner Robert Taylor was off the target by inches no fewer than three times.

The first was a forehead-flick just wide, the second a meaty header that bruised the crossbar and then right at the interval he almost notched again in a move that typified City's sloppiness.

Jones' attempt at a back-header let in the Gills' man rather than find his 'keeper. Mimms hared out, Taylor lobbing him expertly. But the ball sailed narrowly wide watched sentinel-like by Andy McMillan.

As the players funnelled down the tunnel Mimms was spotted dishing out a dose of the verbals. But neither that outburst nor any dressing-room dressing-down cured the rearguard of its ricketiness.

Seven minutes into the re-start Barras was kidnapped in possession of the ball by Taylor. Despite falling over, the burly Taylor ascended and whipped a shot past Mimms. Gillingham's approach was the same, retreat and defend in depth.

They needed to as City levered a rally fired by a move of stunning quality to change the complexion of the game. From their own half the ball was ferried not an inch above the turf from Mark Tinkler to McMillan, and after a 30-yard surge passed into Rowe's path, who deliciously trimmed the ball home.

All the questions were now being asked of the besieged Gills' defence, Rowe and Cresswell now benefiting from early passes.

Substitute Martin Garratt had a stinging half-volley blocked at the last-ditch and a Scott Jordan rasper was only a yard off-target.

But the comeback was stifled seven minutes from time. A whipped-in free-kick from Southall cannoned off Tinkler straight to Guy Butters, who leathered an unstoppable half-volley high into the net from 15 yards.

City's worthy record of six games unbeaten in the garden of England had withered.

MATCH POINTS

9min: Intuitive header from Scott Jordan flies high over the crossbar.

11min: Flick header from Robert Taylor drifts just a foot wide.

15min: Mark Patterson's acrobatic volley dips just over.

17min: Danger-man Carl Asaba pounces to drill home from eight yards after indecision in City's defence. 1-0.

29min: The crossbar is rattled from Taylor's thumping header.

45min: Taylor's lob sails over the advancing Mimms but again it is just inches away.

53min: Tony Barras dwells on the ball to be robbed by Taylor, who runs clear to score. 2-0.

60min: Superb sliding tackle by Wayne Hall clears danger from advancing Asaba.

62min: First-time move from City fractures Gills' defence for Rodney Rowe to swipe in a delightful pass from Andy McMillan. 2-1.

66min: Goal-bound Martin Garratt half-volley is blocked by Nicky Southall tackle.

68min: Goalkeeper Vince Bartram scrambles to his left to uncomfortably deal with a bobbling volley from Mark Tinkler.

83min: Defender Guy Butters lashes home a half-volle after a free-kick from the left squirts off the luckless Tinkler. 3-1.

TAP & SPILE MAN OF THE MATCH

Andy McMillan.

Defended exceptionally well, escaping any jitters. And as City enjoyed their best spell of attacking form McMillan was at the heart of most raids.

FANS' PANEL 1998-9

Who should replace the banned Tinkler against Reading?

Gary Duncanson, age 18

I'd like to see Garratt on the left, Agnew on the right and Pouton and Tinkler in the middle. With Tinkler out I'd bring in Jones. But if things stay as they are I'd bring in Pouton or Agnew for Tinker.

Gary Chatterton, age 31

If he is fit and in training I'd have Alan Pouton in for Tinkler. He is the ideal replacement. If Pouton is not fit then I'd play Martin Garratt, who has proved this season. He can do the job well.

Julian Holden, age 31

Play three strikers and don't bother replacing Tinkler in midfield, on the understanding that Connelly pulls his finger out. If Reading can concede six against Bristol Rovers maybe City can score one.

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