Gillingham 1 Stoke City 3
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by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham's FA Cup run came to an end after they lost to
Premier League Stoke City on Saturday.
After beating League 1 opposition in the previous two rounds
they found top-flight Stoke too hot to handle at Priestfield in
round three.
Gillingham took the lead through Danny Kedwell but went into the
break 2-1 down as Jon Walters and Cameron Jerome replied for Tony
Pulis' Stoke.
Robert Huth headed home to make it 3-1 at the start of the
second half and it was enough to put the game beyond the Gills.
League 2 Gills had a taste of what was to come throughout the
match in the opening minutes, when Rory Delap twice hurled in long
throws, which made for a nervy start to the game.
It wasn't long before Andy Hessenthaler's men got to grips with
the match and with 15 minutes gone they took the lead when Danny
Jackman's cross was turned into Kedwell's path by Chris Whelpdale.
The Gills' leading scorer made no mistake from five yards out.
The hosts kept up the pressure but couldn't relax for a minute
against their Premier League opponents.
Stoke boss Pulis, who had four successful years with the Gills,
received a warm reception from the home fans before kick off. He
responded by making his way to the centre circle to take the
adulation in front of a sell-out Priestfield crowd and watching
Gills chairman Paul Scally.
Stoke set about getting back into the match, following Kedwell's
strike, with Ryan Shawcross and Huth both putting efforts narrowly
wide from successive corner kicks.
In the 34th minute they were on level terms as the visitors
passed their way through the Gills defence.
Jones threaded the ball through to Walters. The Stoke man had
plenty of time to finish but his shot only just squirmed under
keeper Ross Flitney.
As half-time approached Cameron Jerome missed a glorious
opportunity from a Walters cross but he made amends moments later
when he finished from close range after Shawcross' shot from
Delap's throw cannoned off the bar.
The Gills made the worst possible start to the second half when
Huth headed home a Wilson Palacios corner on 49 minutes.
Flitney did well to deny Jerome just past the hour mark when a
free-kick caused panic in the Gills box and the same player put a
great chance over the bar when racing in on goal after breaking
clear of the defence.
At the other end substitute Luke Rooney blasted an effort in
from an angle, after slipping past two defenders, but couldn't beat
Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic.
Gillingham kept up the pressure in the latter stages but were
unable to find a way back into the match.
Gillingham: Flitney, Lee, Frampton, Richards, Lawrence (Rooney
65mins), J Payne, Jackman, Whelpdale, Montrose (S Payne 76mins),
Weston, Kedwell (Oli 63mins). Subs: Fish, Rance, Davies,
Gazzaniga
Stoke: Begovic, Woodgate, Upson, Huth, Shawcross, Palacios
(Whitehead 61mins), Delap, Shotton (Whelan 52mins), Jerome, Jones
(Fuller 73mins), Walters. Subs: Higginbotham, Diao, Pennant,
Nash.
Caption:
Gillingham players celebrate Danny Kedwell's first half goal
against Stoke
What do you think of the Gillingham result? Were Stoke
worthy winners? Did you applaud Tony Pulis? Have your say
below.
Saturday, January 07 2012
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