It was a poor quality game. In fact, it was a real bore. City fans were relaxed, our team looked a little relaxed too while Gillingham were far too tense for understandable reasons to make it a football spectacle.
It was a game all about the substitutes. One of Gillingham's subs, Matthew Jarvis' put them ahead in scrappy style on 75 minutes. Had they held on, both they and City would have had their safety confirmed. Paul Parry, one of City's subs, had different ideas and headed home on 85 minutes. The consequence of that and other results is that it leaves Crewe, Brighton and Gillingham in a straight fight for the final relegation berth to join Rotherham and Nottingham Forest (relegated today) in League One.
Gillingham should be ok but it will be a nail-biting day for them next week. They will survive if Crewe fail to beat Coventry at home (that seems likely given Crewe incredibly haven't won for more than 4 months and 18 Championship matches). If they do win, Gillingham would have to match that result at Nottingham Forest or get a point and pray Brighton lose at home to West Ham (another likely result).
City however can look forward to a much relaxing time with our final match against QPR at home no more than mere detail. They will want to finish off in some style and also atone for arguably our worst display of the season in West London against opponents who, I'm sure, would still like to avenge the play-off defeat last time they played us in Cardiff two years ago. Overall, it should be a bit of a party to get over the 9 months of struggle and toil the season has been.
With M4 lorry demos scheduled to protest about the speed cameras set up in Wiltshire and thirsts to quench, our coach from the Lansdowne left early, very early. A 7am off, it was packed but it did mean that even with a service stop, we made Kent for opening time. In fact, before opening time as we arrive in a village called Strood, 15 minutes from Gillingham and persuaded a pub to open early for us.
"Go in the lounge, we're still washing the floors in the bar area", said the landlady to the first of us piling off the coach who then ignored us and started serving the last ones in who stood at the bar. Five minutes later, her barmaid went spread legged and arse over tit in the bar on the wet floor! It started chants of "she fell over, she fell over" and "we can see your stickers" referring to the price tags she'd left on the underneath from the crowd inside .... well from me anyway! We could also see her one piece lingerie set which seemed to occupy the attention of the rest of the lads.
It was a fine 90 minute stop and with a fish shop in its car park, off we went loaded up with cockles, prawns, mussels and jellied eels. Where's Chas and Dave's music when you need it?
By now, the mist had lifted and it was blazing hot. We met police on the outskirts on Gillingham and we immediately realised we were going to be treated like real people. They had a good number in and around the stadium but, without exception, they were low key, friendly and in excellent humour with us. Why can't it always be like that?
We got escorted into the centre, the ground was a 10 minute walk from the coach park but the police were more keen to direct us to pubs instead. Who were we to turn down their politeness? My only problem there was getting beaten at table football as well as pool by Lloydey, it's been a terrible end to the season at pub sports for me - maybe I should have bunked Fitzalan a bit more than I did and not concentrated on pinball when I was younger!
Anyway, Priestfield. It was a sell out including 1,454 City fans. That's 1,454 tickets sold, not 1,454 inside the ground as quite a few decided to stay at the pub and bask in the beer garden. The crowd was 10,810, the home side's best of the season such is the pulling power of the Mighty Mighty Bluebirds.
The ground, obviously, is small and tight. One terrace, about half the size of the Bob Bank terrace on one side of the pitch, an even narrower terrace converted to seats behind the opposite goal, a new double decker stand on the other side of the pitch. As for City, we had one half of the final stand behind a goal. Like those at Brighton and Barnet, it's a temporary
scaffold-type erection - of the type seen at smaller clubs when they have one-off big games - but which has become a permanent feature here.
Ticket prices were £13, easily the cheapest for an away game this season, so who was complaining? None of us on such a hot, sunny day but if we'd been there in January and it was peeing down, it would have been different.
It was fancy dress day, a tradition for City's last home game. Undoubtedly the most popular costume this year was the Chav-look as many chose to wear burberry caps, shirts, caps and more! There were also monks, nuns, Elvis, The Mask, hippies and myself as Julius Caesar although too many thought I was cross-dressing in that tunic. The nearest Gillingham fan to us in their section of the stand was in fancy dress too - a Man United shirt. I bet he regretted that having taken mighty stick from City fans.
Anyway, football. Gillingham are a side of household names ... erm in their own houses anyway. Down and out and relegation certainties, even as late as two months ago, they are on the verge of a miracle-style escape. Player manager Andy Hessenthaler resigned, Stan Ternant (sacked by Burnley took over) in November. Results improved and an uneaten run with 16 points in 8 games took the Gills to the verge of safety until they hiccupped again being held at home by Crewe a fortnight ago and well beaten at Derby last week to haul them back.
Their side were - Banks, Nosworthy-Ashby-Hope-Hills, Smith-Saunders-Spiller-Agyemang, Roberts-Sidibe. Mamady Sidibe was given the typical warm Kairdiff welcome of "you Jack b*stard" - every minute he was on the pitch and every time he touched the ball. Once Swansea, never forgotten. However one ex-Jack was feted.
In the press box and clearly visible to all was Andy Legg, part of the Radio Wales commentary team. Last time he was at Gillingham with City, we lost 4-1 and got relegated to Division Three five years ago. Sam Hammam took over that summer, our problems may be massive, worryingly massive, but it's been a fantastic 5 years since in many respect.
Leggy, of course, will be a City legend, he carried the attitude and spirit on the pitch that City fans showed backing the team and will always have an affinity with us. He's also having to battle cancer at present and facing an uncertain period. City fans chanted his name for a prolonged time, and at periods in the match, called for him, to walk around the pitch, one or two for him to get on the pitch.
Those who were on the pitch were, no surprise, unchanged for the 11 who pulverised Reading last weekend. That meant Darren Williams, who came on as an early sub last week, staring in place of out of sorts, out of position Tony Vidmar who has, most likely, played his last for City. Thankfully, Lennie saw the light eventually. That meant Alexander, Williams-Gabbidon-Collins-Barker, McAnuff-Boland-Langley-Ardley, Thorne-Jerome. Subs were Margetson-Bullock-Lee-Parry-Vidmar.
The hot weather but, more likely, the occasion definitely affected the football. It was cagey, slow, deliberate, dull, dormant and dead. So much so that the highlight of the first half was a streaker. Why do they always have to be male?
He was good though, jumped on the pitch from the Gillingham section of our shared stand with an inflatable sheep covering his modesty. City fans leading the chants of "sheep shagger" and he duly obliged on the pitch. He ran around aimlessly for a while - we've seen enough City players doing that this season - before performing press-ups with claps and backed by City's fans chanting "easy, easy, easy" then caught and led away with his tackle left on full view, it was probably the best tackle of the first half too.
City were waiting to take a free-kick when the interruption happened. From it, James Collins pumped the ball into the area, a header saw it smack off the top of the bar. I could have sworn it was Peter Thorne but it was a Gillingham defender a fraction away from an o.g..
At this point, news filtered though that Crewe were already a goal down at Crewe. By 3:15, the news was doubly good in that they were 2-0 down. In effect, City's safety was confirmed and anything we did on the pitch was irrelevant to survival. I don't think anyone was that worried anyway but it removed any lingering doubts.
The game continued in its low thrills ways. Gillingham tried to force their way through City and got forward often but Collins and Gabbidon were in top form and dealing with threats very well. Gillingham had two first half chances though, Alexander making a good stop from a close range header dropping under his bar and then Sidibe fired wide and high when well placed ... cue more abuse for the Big Mamma. Getting frustrated, Gills had pot shots from distance only bothering ball boys and fans in our stand.
City looked neat, organised and composed but there was no end product or cutting edge when it came to the final third. Cameron looked like he was in 10 minutes before the interval but was denied by last gasp challenge as he was about to shoot by Ian Cox, his cousins are City fans.
The only other drama of the first half was a tannoy announcement before the interval that all food and drink in the City end had sold out. Up went a chant of "who ate all the pies" from City fans but how ridiculous not to have anything to sell when it was all-ticket and they knew how many we were bringing.
Half-time: Gillingham 0 City 0
Now, as a match reporter, this is the bit where it gets sticky for me. With no refreshments on sale, the stewards let us out to get a drink, we would be re-admitted if we showed our ticket. A bottle of water or coke from the corner shop was far too sensible, we sort the nearest ale house. It was a good 10 minute walk. About 10 of us walked there together and when we got there, another 30 to 40 City fans had beaten us to the place.
I think what followed was the formula; City safe + hot day + cold ales + updates on Sky + long walk back to ground = let's stay at the pub! And wise decision it was too, we had a great time. Those who stayed in the ground mainly witnessed more of the same.
It was dull until the hour. The game livened up a little then as, firstly, Jobi McAnuff burst clear but running towards the goal with City fans behind in expectation, he wastefully hit the side netting. Gillingham has to respond and gambled with two substitutions within minutes with Jarvis replacing Mike Flynn (a Cardiff City fan) and Henderson replaced by Darren Byfield. Byfield, the boyfriend of pop star Jamelia, proved her song "you're a superstar" was not written about him the day he signed for Gillingham but further prove came when he missed an unmissable header in the clear 6 yards out.
Back at the pub, sitting outside lapping up the sun rays with a Guinness Cold never tasting better, groans came from inside. Jeff Stelling had announced on Sky Sports that Gillingham had scored against us and it was 1-0 on 72 minutes. The goal was scrappy, sub JARVIS got clear meeting a Sidibe through ball, his shot was parried by Alexander but still heading fro goal. Barker tried to keep it out but both he and the ball ended up in the back of the net as Southall made sure it wasn't coming back. It wasn't a worry, The Sky Score-Meister also announced that Crewe had fallen further behind.
We decided to head back, Lloydey deciding it was the right time to have his half-time kebab which held us up a bit more! As we were stood outside, a distant roar went up. Bugger, City must be 2-0 down was our reaction. Until, we saw police over the road announcing to us that it was 1-1. They seemed happy for us, what a service those boys provide!
The equaliser came from our sub PAUL PARRY with a delightful header from a Neil Ardley cross. Parry made amends having missed an easier chance not long before. Ardley lacks pace, doesn't have a trick but sends over plenty of crosses, hits a mean set piece and is clearly been an asset and looked a leader for us on the pitch. Of the four goals in the past 10 days against Leicester, Reading and Gillingham, Ardley set up three and scored the other.
We were walking up the street leading back to the ground and within 100 yards of the away end when we got stopped by City fans who had also left the game having what I can only describe as a street party with one of the local householders so impressed with our support and fancy dress that he came out to enjoy it. A can of beer was offered to us, the houseowner was updating us with live scores, it could never happen in Sloper Road or most away grounds in the country, could it?
We never made it back inside Priestfield and were still partying away in the street as final whistle blew then the City fans filed past us.
It's a bizarre experience watching City fans walk out of the game, they were a very happy bunch. All enjoying the relief of safety of City staying in the Championship and that's better than last time we made this level 20 years ago, we were relegated in our second season then and never made it back until now.
Our away record wasn't as good as previous years but that was only because we'd drawn too many. City had only lost 9 on the road this season, only two more than Champions Sunderland, as good as West Ham and better than Preston in the play-offs. But it was only three wins, as poor as Rotherham who were bottom. Almost half our away games, 11, were drawn.
It's been a long season following City away, we've had some tough days, some unfriendly days, some days with compulsory coaches, major detours and heavy stewarding and policing when you wonder why we do it. But we've also had some great days, some good banter and chat with home fans, some top displays and results, soem incredible atmospheres and, always, some great laughs and fun. We've always backed the team 110% and we've plenty to be proud about. I love watching City away ... even when I miss half the game!
Report from FootyMad
Paul Parry scored the goal that keeps Cardiff City up, but puts Gillingham on a relegation knife-edge with just one game remaining.
Parry equalised with just five minutes to go, directing a deft flicked header into the roof of the net from Neal Ardley's cross into the box.
Until that point it looked as if Gillingham would secure their Championship status thanks to Matthew Jarvis' 75th minute goal.
The Gillingham sub raced on to Paul Smith's through ball and fired his shot towards goal. Keeper Neil Alexander got a touch and defender Chris Barker attempted to hack clear off the line, but the strong challenge of Nicky Southall ensured that everyone ended up in the back of the net - crucially along with the ball.
But Parry's late effort means Gillingham are not yet safe and they go to Nottingham Forest next weekend still in danger of the drop.
Until the late drama it had been a tense affair with flair football at a premium - perhaps unsurprisingly with so much at stake near the bottom.
Chances were few and far between in a dismal first-half in which neither team seemed keen to gamble on pushing men forward.
Cardiff perhaps felt a point would be enough to guarantee their safety, while the Gills failed to break down a resolute Bluebirds defence.
Indeed, the best opportunity came when Gillingham full-back James McEveley almost headed into his own net after nine minutes.
Ardley's free-kick was swung into the danger area and although McEveley did well to win the aerial challenge, he only succeeded in directing the ball backwards and was fortunate his header smacked against the bar and bounced away to safety.
Apart from that it was pretty mundane stuff, although Gills striker Mamady Sidibe should have done better when he beat keeper Alexander to Southall's throughball, but could only prod his shot wide of the target.
Alexander was also forced into action to tip over Darius Henderson's close-range header as the home side edged possession, but could not find a way through.
And even when they did in the second half, they were then pegged back and they could still be playing in League One next season if results go against them next weekend.
External reports
Wales On Sunday
South Wales Echo