Gillingham (1) 3 Weston 20, Richards 72, S Payne 82
AFC Bournemouth (0) 2 Frampton (o.g.) 55, Arter 90
Att. 4,321
Entrance: £15
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 45/2,067
Match Report
Have this Gillingham team proved to their supporters, but more importantly to themselves, that they have what it takes to make this season a success, primarily with promotion but, as this match provided a passage in the FA Cup, perhaps a cup run in parallel.AFC Bournemouth have provided League One opposition and Gillingham have proved over the course of two matches that they can compete with clubs at that level, having also acquitted themselves admirably at Championship Brighton in the League Cup earlier in the season.
Both of these FA Cup First Round games have been high on entertainment and provided 11 goals to feast on. Whilst Curtis Weston’s shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner might not have eclipsed Jack Payne’s 35 yard effort at Dean Court, it was still a decent hit from the recalled midfielder who went onto to win the man of the match award for an impressive return to form.
Weston’s goal after 20 minutes was the only goal of a half that Gillingham mostly dominated but still had that worrying fragility at the back that left Ross Flitney to make a good save from Simon Francis just prior to the break and also remind the Gillingham faithful that had travelled to the south coast for the original tie that winger Scott Malone would be a constant source of danger.
It was indeed the shaggy-haired Wolves loanee that skipped past Charlie Lee into acres of space before delivering a cross that Gillingham skipper Andy Frampton could only turn into his own goal on 55 minutes. Bournemouth then enjoyed a period in the ascendancy and Flitney was called upon to make saves from Marc Pugh before the home side restored their lead with 15 minutes remaining.
As I grumbled that Gillingham didn’t look to have a goal in them at that particular point in the game, first Garry Richards popped up at the far post from a Lee cross to slide home his third goal of the season, only for stadium announcer Doug Hudson to credit the goal to Danny Kedwell! Seven minutes later, substitute Stefan Payne collected a pass, turned and shot into the far corner for a lead that appeared unassailable, but then so did Bournemouth’s at Dean Court.
A well taken free kick from ex-Welling player Harry Arter with four minutes of added time to play left Gillingham fans with fingernails to bite as Bournemouth went in search of an equaliser, but their one chance was blazed over by the veteran Steve Fletcher as the home side held out to earn an away tie against Leyton Orient.
No comments:
Post a Comment