After what has felt like an age, Saturday saw me head to Gillingham for my first game of the 2024/25 season which marks the start of my 20th campaign following my beloved Watford FC.
With the league curtain raiser against Millwall at The Den still a few weeks away, what better way to fill the void than a trip to Kent to see the Hornets take on League Two Gillingham in a pre-season friendly. A sarcasm warning is required following that sentence.
After spending over two and a half hours in my sweatbox Suzuki I only just made kick-off at Priestfield, which had thankfully been delayed by 10 minutes. It was a solo trip for this one, so I took my place in the away end and settled in to see how Tom Cleverley's side were shaping up ahead of the new season. It was my second trip to the home of the Gills having watched Peterborough United defeat them 1-0 back in 2017 in what can only be described as one of the coldest and most drab matches I've ever watched.
The Hornets fielded a relatively strong side (I use that term loosely given the current talent at our disposal) which included a start for Moussa Sissoko who returned to the club for a second spell, as well as the return of Ryan Porteous after his short time with Scotland at Euro 2024. Elsewhere it provided me with a first glimpse of Roco Vata who led the line having joined from Celtic earlier in the summer. Wesley Hoedt, Yaser Asprilla and Georgi Chakvatadze were missing for this one.
To the game itself, Watford got the ball into some great positions, particularly with wing-back Ryan Andrews who was found on countless occasions on the right-hand side. However, despite those openings, we never really forced the Gills 'keeper into a meaningful save (the story of the afternoon, hopefully not the season). On a positive note, Roco Vata looked lively and caused lots of problems, you can tell he's raw and will get people off their seats, I look forward to seeing how he develops once things properly get underway on August 10th in South London. Additionally, you can see Cleverley implementing a style of play that should lend itself well to when some of our better players on paper are in the starting line-up, the openings created fill me with some hope that we will make plenty of good chances when the real stuff begins in three weekends time.
Despite the domination of possession and final-third openings, Gillingham took the lead after a neatly worked free-kick caught the 'Orns cold and a trialist made no mistake as he slotted past Daniel Bachmann. The fourth-tier outfit had threatened moments before that having slowly grown into the game after defending well in the early stages in the sweltering Kent sunshine.
There weren't too many other chances of note, minus Watford having two efforts off the line following a melee after a well-taken corner. The second-half really is one that won't live long in the memory, again Watford dominated the ball but created little and midway through the half Gillingham caught them on the break to make it two, following some suspect defending by new signing Antonio Tikvic. Football was well and truly back!
Watford continued to get forwards without much joy, as both sides made numerous substitutions, which gave the game a classic pre-season feel where neither side could build much momentum. The scoreline remained the same as the referee brought the friendly to a close. I am not one to worry too much about results in pre-season as they genuinely do mean little, but it was a concern how little we tested the Gillingham 'keeper, it's clear a new number nine is clearly needed ahead of the new season, as well as a first team left wing-back following the departure of the underwhelming Jamal Lewis during the off-season.
All in all, it was nice to get out for a game of football in the sunshine and to restore some normality in being disappointed with a Watford performance, the perfect warm-up for what's to come I suspect!
The Orns face Hibs, Wycombe and Brentford before the new season begins with a tough test away to Millwall on the opening day of the Championship season. Despite everything I can't wait to get across the country once more to cheer on the Hornets. Come on you 'Orns!
Gillingham 2-0 Watford - Pre Season
Stadium Rating: 7/10
Ticket Price: £14
Time in transit: 4 hours
Random Highlight: Tikvic squaring up to a Gills man for literally no reason
