Gillingham 1 Stoke City 3

Match 40/11/927 - Saturday, 7 January 2012 - FA Cup 3rd Round

Gillingham (1) 1 Kedwell 16
Stoke City (2) 3 Walters 34, Jerome 44, Huth 47
Att. 9,872

Entrance: £24
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 45/3,114

Match Report

This was a FA Cup Third Round tie that rather slipped under the radar of the national press and television. It was as likely to produce an upset as Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa or Peterborough v Sunderland and the Birmingham v Wolves encounter was less than appealing to those outside of the Midlands; throw in the ingredients of the soap opera that was Pulis v Scally and it is surprising that it was largely ignored.


Tony Pulis walked the touchline to the dug-outs to a reception that must have stuck in the throat of the Gillingham chairman. Applause rang from all four sides of the stadium and the Stoke manager strayed 20 yards onto the pitch to acknowledge the acclaim. Whether Gillingham fans were fondly remembering his time at Priestfield that ended with his sacking after the 1999 play-off against Manchester City or whether they were taking sides in the dispute is for each and every home supporter to know their own reason, but as receptions for returning employees go, it was one of the most heartfelt I’ve known.

Pulis left Priestfield not only with a place in the Fourth Round but also holding much of the dignified high ground as Scally’s pre-match interview and programme notes left no doubt that there would be not reconciliation, no forgiveness and a ban on Pulis from entering anything other than the away dressing room and the dug-outs will only be perceived as petty.

The “most evil and despicable person [Scally] has ever worked with” has a team that has the character of the Gillingham side that he managed. As the teams lined up for the customary handshakes it appeared that the little people of Lilliput had been set in a scene from Land of the Giants, Stoke City were positively huge. Their physicality, especially at set pieces, always left the feeling they were less susceptible to an upset than some of the fancy-dan Premiership sides that might not have fancied a day out with fourth division terriers snapping around their heels.

Ultimately, that was the way the game worked out. Gillingham manfully tried, but could not withstand the aerial assault delivered from Rory Delap throw-ins and high crosses into the box, but for half-an-hour home supporters were dreaming as their favourites not only matched their illustrious opponents, but had the temerity to grab the opening goal after 16 minutes.

A cross from Danny Jackman was headed on by Chris Whelpdale leaving Danny Kedwell at the far post to tuck the ball home from close range to raise the roof at a sold-out Priestfield. The goal reaffirmed the belief with which Gillingham had begun the game and a run from centre defence, skipping a couple of challenges like a creative midfielder, from Matt Lawrence brought the house down.

Sadly it was not to last and the home side will rue a soft goal that allowed the Potters back into the match on 34 minutes. Gillingham failed to clear their lines and Cameron Jerome and Jon Walters combined to leave the Irishman to fire a shot under the body of Ross Flitney, who might have done better in his attempt to save what was a half-hit effort.

Gillingham desperately needed to get to the break on level terms but almost inevitably fell behind to the Delap missile thrower with a minute left on the clock. The long-throw was met by a Ryan Shawcross header that cannoned back off the bar with Jerome reacting quickest to lift a shot high into the net for a half-time lead that was felt to be undeserved.

The game was ended as a contest three minutes into the second half as once more Gillingham succumbed to the aerial advantage that Stoke clearly enjoyed. A corner from Wilson Palacios was met with a soaring header from Robert Huth, who was literally head and shoulders above any challenge as his header powered in from around the penalty spot.

Embarrassment might well have followed but Gillingham dug in, perhaps with the aid of the foot coming off the pedal from their visitors, and continued to make a game of it throughout an entertaining second period. Danny Kedwell was replaced by Dennis Oli, as it was later revealed he had broken a rib, whilst Luke Rooney and Stefan Payne were also introduced as Andy Hessenthaler made a positive attempt to retrieve the game.

Rooney brought a save from Begovic and Jackman was denied a penalty appeal as referee Mark Halsey failed to redeem himself in the eyes of Gillingham fans for his bad timekeeping of 1999.

At the final whistle, Gillingham had given their supporters much to be proud of, I cannot help but think that Paul Scally did less so. As Ronan Keating once sang “you say it best when you say nothing at all.”