Colchester 1 : Rovers 4 (Molyneux)
>>>>>>> Scorer Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 7 >>> 107 >>>>> 114
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>> 148 >>>>> 151
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>> 133 >>>> 136
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>> 77 >>>>>> 77
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>> 111 >>>> 114
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>>> 16 >>> 576 >>>> 592

We've been a bit sloppy over the last 2 matches allowing opposition wide players to fire crosses in too easily. I'm sure GM will address this. It's all too easy to assume teams with nothing to gain or lose won't put in the effort to win. Nevertheless with our current form and their poor defensive record I'm pretty confident of a win. Ironside to get his 20 the goal of the season and Adelukan to add the second in a 2-0 win. I've a sneaky feeling Bradford might just make it too.

The computer predicts Crewe to draw, Crawley to win, Barrow to draw and us to lose! However we still make the playoffs in this scenario.

Nookie, the same computer, when there were 3 games to go, did not think we would even get to 70 points. so much for computers and AI!

Donaldo, just like you I predicted Molyneux to score. We both were one goal away from bonus points!

Micky - subtly put. I have adjusted the scores on my spreadsheet to award you the 4 extra points! You would not think anybody could make so many mistakes over such a small number of figures.

I'll continue to "Dare to Dream" and say 3-1 to the Rovers (although I'm sure Lo-Tutala will want a clean sheet, but we've been a little careless in defense the last couple of games). I think Ironside will get his 20th league goal, but the first will be Biggins.

Keeping the faith again. 4-2 to Rovers. Ironside with the first.

No Biggins - must be an injury as he is not on the bench. Tommy Rowe is not a bad replacement!

I'll substitute Rowe to be the first scorer.

No Biggins, and Hirst only on the bench, so I'll choose Ironside instead. I thought I might stick with Hirst, but having to wait till he comes off the bench would be building in anxiety.

My hopes sank when TLT had to leave the field and since it was an obvious goal scoring opportunity it had to be a Red rather than a Yellow.

Jones did not take long to perform to type although I’m sure it will be “Jones had no chance” times two from his loyal fans.

Going into any game with him between the posts is worth probably a two goal start to Crewe, but perhaps we will be able to claw back any deficit with Lo Tutala back for the 2nd leg, assuming I’m right in believing that it’s only a one game ban.

That was nerve racking. Thought we were cruising at 2-0 up. Apart from having to have Jones in goal for the first leg perhaps having the winning streak come to an end now might be a blessing in disguise.

UK viewers will know Col U and Crewe was live on Sky and the former probably deserved to win. We can take some comfort from this fact and Crewe did not really have much spark about them.

Rovers probably showed more character in holding on and remaining enterprising to a degree despite the disadvantage.

The Welsh international Williams went down feigning serious injury half a dozen time and not surprisingly recovered completely every single time!

Should only be 1 game ban for TLT thankfully.

Well Micky was right about TLT wanting and achieving a clean sheet, but not in the way it was imagined. I was thinking we'd al forecasted Ironside, but then noticed there was one late change of mind.
Gillingham 2 : Rovers 2 (Ironside)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>> 114 >>>>> 118
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>> 155 >>>>> 155
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>> 136 >>>> 140
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>> 77 >>>>>> 77
Nookie>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>> 114 >>>> 118
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>> 12 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 12 >>>> 596 >>>> 608

I have to admit when it went to 2-1 I had to stop watching to keep my blood pressure in check!
The DFP and Grant mentioned a fine save by Jones at 2-2, nothing was shown on the extended highlights. I'm not prepared to re-watch the whole game, so did any of you see it, or if watching the whole repay, at what time in the game was it? I could then watch some of the replay.
I think we could do better in defending free kicks like the first goal. I know the kick had some pace, but the striker went for the side of the goal Jones was covering. I assume the wall was to cover the 2/3 of the goal where Jones was not. So it seems the ball went through a gap in the wall meant to be covered by Jones - or did it going between Rovers players meant to block it? To me it seemed to go through an obvious gap - maybe a Rovers player moved just before the actual kick that made it bigger than it was meant to be. There used to be a button to show highlights in slow motion, but it does not seem to be there on my iMac using Safari.
I assume the play-offs will be on iFollow and I'm glad we have the later first leg game, so a 09:30 KO rather than 07:00 over here.

Any save Jones makes is classified as "great" in the eyes of those who urge us to "give the lad a chance". Of course Jones is several years older than TLT but he does have the demeanour of a youth in comparison. I assume it will be on the extended highlights, although the fact that it is not on the short highlights suggests that the editors did not regard it as such a great save.

As for the failure of the wall, Adelukan was observed to have jumped out of the way. Jones got a hand to the ball, but, as we have seen before it was probably only a weak one and he might have been quicker to react.

I'm afraid I went into "fearing the worst" mood after the second goal and we were fortunate that there was no need for any proper goalkeeping from then onwards. TLT's absence in the first leg at Crewe will be a huge drawback and even if Jones does tolerably well it would be disastrous to allow him to keep his place.

When McCann gets praise for what he's done we mustn't forget that he chose the 2 goalkeepers that we were saddled with for the unsuccessful part of the season.

It’s not often you’re pleased to be wrong, but rescinding TLT’s red card/ suspension is amazing news!

Amazed to say the least! I think it is because of the given cause of "denying a goal scoring opportunity", and it was not 100% that a Gillingham player could get to the ball first. What is the penalty for just "deliberate handball"? If stopping goal-bound shot, it is a red card, but otherwise, I'm not sure. I bet Jones is not pleased 🤭.

That's fabulous news!

Maybe the fact that the players accepted it without demur could have counted in our favour. If the ref was asked to reflect, this would have made it easier for him to admit it was not actually "obvious". The apparent fact that the projected course of the ball was not goal-bound was presumably key.

Wearing a legal hat, I think we have been very fortunate. I read that Gillingham manager was angry about a "rugby tackle" which went unpunished, but then he got the sack, so I don't suppose he cares any more!

There were two or three Rovers players behind TLT when he handled the ball and the Gillingham forward was in front of them. So it was clearly not deliberately denying a clear goal scoring opportunity .

Not entirely sure but as I understand it was a big risk as if unsuccessful it would have been a 3 game ban.

I think that there is a general risk of an appeal being deemed “frivolous” in which case the ban can be increased, but that it would be unlikely in these circumstances if you are simply challenging the “obvious” test.

Earlier today I tried to find the official record of the proceedings on the FA website, but the most recent material there is for the month of March. The FA site is very difficult to navigate and I could not even find a “Search” facility.