Football – England – League Two
Saturday 17th November 2012 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
League Two leaders Gillingham will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the division when they take on mid-table Morecambe at Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Gills have lost just twice in seventeen league matches this season and quite rightly sit top of the pile in what has been a fantastic season so far for them. They also thrashed League One strugglers Scnthorpe United 4-0 in the first round of the FA Cup recently, so their season seems to be on course for manager Martin Allen.
Gillingham’s home form stands at 5-2-1 18/5, and they’ve despatched the likes of Bradford City, Bristol Rovers, Southend United, Aldershot Town and Burton Albion so far and given Morecambe’s recent away form, they stand every chance of achieving another home win for their faithful.
Strikers Danny Kedwell and Deon Burton give them an outlet, and with winger Chris Whelpdale supplying the quality crosses, they will always create chances and this afternoon should be no exception.
Visitors Morecambe have recorded back-to-back wins in their last two matches with wins over Rochdale in the FA Cup and a 4-1 home win over joint-bottom Barnet last weekend, but they face a whole new challenge away at league leaders Gillingham and they’ll do very well to get even a point here today I feel.
Just one away win in their last six on the road (which was again at Rochdale) suggests that their form on their travels is severely lacking in terms of being Gillingham’s equal in this fixture; defeats at Bradford City 1-3, Cheltenham Town 0-2, Rotherham United 1-2 and Torquay United 0-1 has deflated Morecambe’s early season away form where they recorded back-to-back wins at Exeter City and Bristol Rovers back in August,
The Shrimps’ away record now stands at 3-1-4 10/9 and they’ve failed to score on three occasions. Striker Richard Brodie (4 goals, 2 assists), Kevin Ellison (4 goals, 2 assists) and Andrew Fleming (3 goals, 2 assists) are the main goal threats, but often these have been in evidence more at home than away.
I’m confident of a Gillingham win here, and I was tempted to go for the -1 handicap but this could be a bit closer than that so I’ll stick with the straight win today – Gills to win 2-1.
Pick: Gillingham straight win @ 1.62 Betfred
