Gillingham 3 AFC Bournemouth 2
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Stefan Payne scores Gillingham's third
goal Picture: Barry Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham clinched a place in round two of the FA Cup
after beating League 1 Bournemouth at Priestfield on Tuesday
night.
Curtis Weston (pictured) put the Gills ahead
midway through the first half but it was all-square early in the
second when Andy Frampton turned a cross into his own net.
The Gills were back ahead when Garry Richards
slotted home on 75 minutes and moments later they added a third
through substitute Stefan Payne.
A free-kick from Harry Arter sailed in during
stoppage time to make for a nervy end to the game.
It was boss Andy Hessenthaler’s first cup win
since returning to the Gills as manager.
Gillingham made an electric start to the cup
tie but long shots from Jack Payne, Weston and Charlie Lee failed
to trouble visiting keeper Darryl Flahavan.
The visitors, from a division above, were
barely out of their own half in the opening 30 minutes and they
found themselves a goal behind with 21 minutes gone.
Weston, who was chief architect in Gills’
impressive start to the game, claimed a deserved goal with a low
effort that was drilled into the bottom corner through a crowd of
players.
Bournemouth improved as the half wore on but
their finishing deserted them.
Gills captain Frampton was back in the team
and he made several vital interceptions, which left the visitors
boasting just the solitary effort on target in the first half.
On that occasion keeper Ross Flitney was there
to divert Simon Francis’ shot wide with a minute of the half
remaining.
The Gills made a change at the break with
Stefan Payne joining Kedwell upfront to form a two-pronged attack.
He came on for Chris Whelpdale.
Bournemouth came out with more urgency in the
second half and Charlie Lee had to make a clearance from infront of
goal early on, before Harry Arter flashed a shot wide, after Jack
Payne lost the ball.
At the other end Stefan Payne tried his luck
after cutting in from the wing but Flahavan dived and saved.
The game was level on 55 minutes when Lee was
beaten on the flank by Scott Malone and the cross was turned into
his own net by Frampton.
With just over an hour gone Flitney kept the
scores level with a great block to deny Andy Pugh after two
Bournemouth players found themselves unmarked inside the Gills
penalty area.
Just as Bournemouth were getting into their
stride the Gills struck a second when Lee’s cross found its way to
Richards and he slotted home the second.
With seven minutes left Andy Hessenthaler’s
side made it 3-1 when Frampton’s long ball forward was taken down
by Stefan Payne and expertly smashed into the bottom corner.
Bournemouth scored a second to make things
tense in the first minute of stoppage time, with a great free-kick
from Arter, but the Gills hung on and will now face Leyton Orient
on December 3 in the next round.
Gillingham: Flitney,
Frampton, Richards, Martin, Lee, J Payne, Montrose, Weston (Rance
90mins), Whelpdale (S Payne 46mins), Oli (Fish 81mins), Kedwell.
Subs: Fish, Rance, Evans, Gazzaniga, Miller.
Bournemouth: Flahavan,
Barrett, Zubar, Arter, Francis, Cummings (Gregory 83mins), Purches
(Cooper 78mins), Pugh, Malone, Thomas, Symes (Fletcher 78mins).
Subs: Jalal, Carmichael, Lindsey, Gregory, Taylor.
What did you make of Gillingham's performance? Comment
below.
Tuesday, November 22 2011
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