Match report: Bowled over by Gills

Tours to India, Pakistan and South Africa have rarely brought much joy. And as for the Ashes clashes Down Under, just forget it.

So the sight of City rolling up in deepest Kent in the national cricket side's official bus was not the best of omens.

True to form, the performance matched that of those sportsmen who normally occupy the luxurious seats on the coach.

Ignore the scoreline, this was as one-sided a 1-0 win as you will get.

Gillingham had 16 shots to City's six, not to mention the numerous crosses that flashed across Aidan Davison's six-yard box screaming out for a blue-shirted touch to finish them off.

From the half-dozen efforts the visitors could muster, only one actually forced a save from Jason Brown. And it was the 81st minute before the Gillingham keeper smothered that effort by Andy Gray.

The City top-scorer hardly threatened to add to his 15-goal tally and Claus Jorgensen, on what could have a record-equalling afternoon, had just as barren a time.

Jorgensen was dreaming of equalling Dixie Dean's run of scoring in nine successive away league matches. Gray even agreed to hand over penalty duties to boost Jorgensen's hopes.

But he was limited to just the one chance and did well to get that. Gus Uhlenbeek's scuffed cross midway through the second half should have been cut out by two defenders, Jorgensen gambled, though, and it paid off as he stole forward in front of Brown - only to rap a first-time shot against the near post.

That was as good as it got for City's would-be Dixie Dane and the away fans on the terrace behind that goal.

Most of them must have been up at the crack of dawn to dodge the Bank Holiday day-trippers and they got little in return. The vasectomy service advertised on a billboard opposite the main stand would have been painless in comparison.

With survival sorted by Saturday's win over Watford, Nicky Law felt the time was right to try a new system with three centre-halves. He also gave a debut to youngster Frazer McHugh in place of the bed-ridden Peter Atherton.

The former Swindon midfielder's bow was quite a successful one - the change of defensive formula not so much. It might work in time but the first showing suggests that plenty of practice is needed.

Gillingham were minus three injured strikers and tossed forward Nyron Nosworthy, normally a full back.

Nosworthy began his career in midfield and had played a couple of games up front in the youth team. Yesterday he looked as if he'd been leading the line for years.

His pace combined with the power of partner Mamady Sidibe proved a constant handful for the Bantams. At the other end, it was a different story as the threat offered by Gray and Laurens Ten Heuvel was minimal in comparison.

Neither team was assisted by a pitch that was a total disgrace. Sunday league park players would be ashamed if they were confronted with a similar surface.

There was sand everywhere and bare patches in all the key areas. It was impossible to dribble the ball for more than five yards before it hopped on a divot or dropped in a crumbly hole.

The surface has not recovered since the drainage went hay-wire following re-building work. Three matches were lost to a water-logged pitch over Christmas and according to locals it has just got worse since.

Hopefully when they knock down the terraced Town End in the summer, the drains can be repaired. Tough action has to be taken over a field that is clearly sub-standard.

That was in evidence early on when Davison just about managed to smuggle Danny Spiller's skidding shot round the post after it ping-ponged over the labyrinth of ruts in his penalty area.

Spiller, a dynamo in central midfield, got his own back by setting up the winner after 28 minutes. His flick into the box fell for Paul Shaw who lofted a well-placed effort over the City keeper.

Nosworthy hit the post and Sidibe jabbed against the bar after half-time as Gillingham maintained the only attacking threat from

start to finish. Howzat for a Bank Holiday best forgotten.