09/03/20 - Out On Loan - Written by Lewis Browning

Welcome to ‘Out On Loan’, a feature published every Monday where we catch up on how those out on loan from Gillingham’s men’s team got on over the previous week.


Another seven days of football have been and gone and it was a mixed week for our loan boys. We had victories, defeats, a few draws, and even some hammerings.


There are seven players to check out; we begin in League Two.


Ouss Cissé


Ouss would have been itching to get back out on the pitch on Saturday after Leyton Orient’s 
match against Forest Green the previous week was postponed thanks to the weather.


As he has been doing of late, the big midfielder started his Orient’s fixture at home to Cambridge on Saturday and saw out the 90 minutes, helping his side to a 2-1 victory in the process.


Orient extended their unbeaten home run to seven matches with the win, and ‘King Ouss’, who has just been crowned Orient’s ‘Player of the Month’ for January, is loving life in the capital.


With Gills manager Steve Evans confirming recently that Cissé is out of contract at the end of the season, it’s unlikely that we’ll see him in a Gillingham shirt again, however.

At least he’s now enjoying his football again.


TJ Bramble


It was only late last month that TJ joined Sittingbourne on a loan but he’s already settling into life nicely at Woodstock Park.


The young midfielder started his side’s loss at Haywards Heath Town on Tuesday, and his team were well in it at half time with the score at 0-0.


The hosts took control after the break, though, and goals from Nathan Cooper and Hamish Morrison left the Kent side with a mountain to climb.


Bramble was replaced on 78 minutes, and Sid Sollis’ late strike wasn’t enough for Sittingbourne to take anything from the game. Although Bramble would have been pleased with the minutes in the tank, he would’ve been less satisfied with the result.


After one substitute appearance and two starts, the Antigua international was back on the bench for Saturday’s visit to fellow Kent side Herne Bay.


Brickies manager Chris Lynch didn’t take long to call on his services, though. With his team trailing 1-0, Bramble was introduced at half time and he and his team would’ve fancied their chances of getting back into the game when Herne Bay’s Daniel Carrington was given his marching orders by the referee just 12 minutes into the second half.


Sittingbourne struggled to break down a resolute home defence, however, and, when Zak Ansah netted his second penalty of the game, the challenge got even harder for the Brickies.


Stephen Okoh managed to pull one back for the visitors late on, but it was too little too late and Bramble and his teammates had to taste defeat for a staggering eighth league game in a row.


Emmanuel Fernandez


After being replaced at half time in Merstham’s defeat at Cray Wanderers the week before, Fernandez didn’t make the match day squad for his side’s game against Bognor Regis on Saturday.


In their centre half’s absence, Merstham came flying out the blocks and took an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Bobby Mills and Mitchal Gough, but Dan Smith pulled one back for the visitors just before half time, which triggered a comeback.


Bognor were level on 68 minutes thanks to Ashton Leigh, and it looked as if they would go on to find a winner with momentum on their side. The hosts held on, though, to earn a valuable point in their relegation dog fight.


Lee Hodson


It was a tough week for Hodson at St. Mirren.


Minutes wise, he was fine. He played 90 on Wednesday against St. Johnstone and the full game on Saturday against Celtic. The problem was with the results.


Wednesday’s matchup was a bore draw – 0-0 – although right back Hodson would have been happy to have contributed to a clean sheet.


At Celtic Park, however, the defence fell apart. The reigning champions hammered their visitors 5-0, mainly thanks to a Leigh Griffiths hattrick. The forward was supported by strikes from Odsonne Edouard and Callum McGregor to compile a miserable afternoon for the Saints.


The main positive, however, is that Lee is getting minutes and enjoying his football again.


Jimmy Witt


Young defender Witt has had an up and down career at Hartsdown Park so far as he’s battled through various injuries. In Margate’s latest game against Bowers & Pitsea, however, he made the bench.


He was introduced after 80 minutes, replacing Gills teammate Tommy Lamb, and was on hand to see Elliott Reeves slot home an 89^th minute winner to earn Margate a first victory in eight games after four draws in a row.


Toby Bancroft


After struggling for game time at Wingate & Finchley through injury, Bancroft was on hand on Saturday to open the scoring for his loan club against table-topping Worthing at Woodside Road after 12 minutes.


Some positive hustling allowed the youngster to win the ball off a defender and run through to slot past Carl Rushworth in the Worthing goal – but the celebrations were short lived.


The hosts equalised just five minutes later through Aarran Racine and took the lead just after half an hour thanks to Dayshonne Golding.


It was 3-1 soon after half time when Oliver Pearce slotted a penalty home, before Bancroft made way for Alphanso Kennedy on 65 minutes.


Kieron Pamment sealed all three points for Worthing after 84 minutes, and Great Evans’ 89^th minute was a mere consolation as the game ended 4-2.


The result brought the Blues’ five-game unbeaten run to an end, but Bancroft would have been more than happy with his goal.


Tommy Lamb


Like Witt, Tommy is on loan at Margate and has struggled with injuries during his time at the Isthmian League club. He’s fit again now, though, and started their win against Bowers & Pitsea.


He managed a solid 80 minutes in the game before being replaced by Witt, and will be hoping he can help his side back up their positive result going forward.


Come back to JournalForGills next Monday for next week’s edition of ‘Out On Loan’.