Youngsters unlucky to lose in entertaining cup game
Darren Hare delivered his verdict following the Gills 3-2 defeat to Colchester on Saturday.Gills took the lead through Charlie Webster but went in level at half time with the scores locked at 2-2.
The visitors did their utmost to secure a winner after the interval, but in the end it was Colchester who claimed the plaudits.
Speaking to the club website Darren said: "It was another good performance, we lost the game 3-2 but it was a good opening goal from Charlie.
"He got put through and lobbed the keeper with a good finish and Mitchell Dickinson converted a great header from a set piece.
“Two good goals from the boys but Colchester are a good side and are unbeaten. They are a category three academy and narrowly missed out on level two status which would have meant playing against much higher opposition.
“They have invested a lot of money in to their youth programme so it was always going to be tough but even their guy afterwards said we deserved something out of the game so that was nice to hear.
“We didn’t play very well in the first half and yet it was 2-2 at half time. I actually thought we played better second half with our ball retention and our creativity and yet we ended up conceding the goal and losing the game so it’s funny how Football works sometimes.
“I actually thought we were better second half than in the first half but the score line however doesn’t suggest that. It’s a lovely place with a lovely pitch and the boys did well.
“Jack Sellens worked tirelessly up front without causing many problems. He had one opportunity where he chased down a ball, nicked it off the centre half, the keeper has come out and he has managed to ride that challenge and almost got an open goal with two recovering defenders but unfortunately for him he wasn’t able to finish it off.
“He is really coming on and doing much better recently but on the whole I was pleased.”
Team: Nalder, Emptage, Dickinson, Freiter, Leonard, Kilman, Staunton, Blanchard, Romeo, Webster, Sellens.
Goals: Webster, Dickinson