We look ahead to tomorrows League Two encounter
GILLINGHAM v BARNETnpower League Two
Wednesday December 26 2012
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Kick-off: 1.00pm
TEAM NEWS…
The Gills are expected to have a fully fit squad to select from after Saturday’s game at York was lost to the weather, Chris Whelpdale has had further time to recover from injury.
The visitors will have to assess the fitness of Clovis Kamjdo who picked up a knock in Friday’s game against Burton but Collins John (hernia), Steve Kabba (knee) and Ishmail Kamara (shoulder) are all ruled out.
THE SEASON SO FAR…
Barnet’s 3-2 home victory over Burton Albion last Friday took the club out of the League Two relegation places and they arrive here tomorrow lying 22nd in the table.
They have now picked up 19 points (four wins and seven draws) from their 23 games.
Before the game with the Brewers, the North London side had won three and drawn four of their previous ten league games.
This run includes their best win of the season, a 4-0 home victory over Northampton Town, when former Dutch international Edgar Davids made his bow.
Previously on their travels the Bees have won once, 1-0 at Chesterfield, and drawn two others, these were at Southend United (2-2) and Wycombe Wanderers (0-0).
LEADING GOALSCORERS…
With the Gills game at the Kit Kat Crescent postponed on Saturday there was no change to the Gills goalscoring list, Danny Kedwell leading the way with 11 goals while Deon Burton is now just two behind.
Currently leading the Bees goalscoring list is former Dundee striker Jake Hyde who has six goals to his name.
Ricky Holmes moved up to second in the chart with his hat-trick against the Brewers on Friday and he now has five.
These are followed by ex-Dagenham forward Jon Nurse with three while Mark Byrne has two.
EARLIER THIS SEASON…
It was back on September 8 that the two sides met in the sunshine at Underhill with the Gills running out 3-1 winners with the result seeing the Gills maintain their 100% away record and remain top of the table.
The Gills took an 11th minute lead when Payne drilled home from the edge of the area and the 1,144 travelling supporters were still celebrating when Kedwell headed home a Charlie Allen cross to make it 2-0.
Jack Saville headed home to pull one back for the Bees but then six minutes before the break it was 3-1 as Burton found the net with a back header from a Charlie Lee long throw.
Barnet – Stack, Fuller, Brown, Kamjdo, Saville (Hyde 50), Stephens, Byrne (Oster 46), Yiadom (Lowe 90), C Weston, Nurse, Holmes Unused subs: Cowler, Lee, Abdulla, Warren
Gillingham – Nelson, Fish (Flanagan 84), Martin, Davies, Barrett, Payne, Whelpdale (M Weston 68), Lee, Allen, Kedwell, Burton (Strevens 72) Unused subs: Forecast, Frampton, Montrose, Dack
PREVIOUS MEETINGS…
There have been 18 previous meetings against Barnet in all competitions dating back to the first, an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie in November 1947.
Just two of these have been in the month of December with both taking place at Underhill.
The first of these saw a Dougie Freedman goal separate the sides on December 27 1994 while the other, on December 13 2008, saw the two sides share four goals in torrential conditions.
Andy Barcham equalised Michael Leary’s 46th minute opener and then after John O’Flynn had put the Bees back in front up popped Simeon Jackson with a 92nd minute leveller to send the 995 travelling Gills home with a point.
Barnet: Beckwith, Yakubu, Leary, Adomah, Porter, Birchall, Deverdics (Bishop 84), Townsend, De Magalhaes, Nicolau, O'Flynn (Medley 88) Unused Subs: Akurang, Charles, Kadoch
Gillingham: Royce, Fuller, Richards, King, Nutter, Jarrett (Southall 64), Bentley (Mulligan 78), Weston, Barcham, Miller, Jackson Unused Subs: Lewis, Pugh, Mills
OFFICIALS…
Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistants: Matthew Buonassisi & Ian Rathbone
Fourth Official: Nigel Lugg
This is Tim’s first season on the Football League list but the Barnet game will be his second game at Priestfield of the campaign. He was previously in charge of the 2-1 victory over Morecambe in November.
In his 14 previous games this season the West Sussex official has issued one red and 32 yellow cards.