Match Report: Gillingham 1 Stoke City 3

FA CUP THIRD ROUND

GILLINGHAM  1 (Kedwell,

16)

STOKE 3 (Walters 34, Jerome, 44, Huth, 49)

By Michael Baggaley at the Priestfield Stadium.

 

STOKE came from behind to secure their place in the FA Cup

fourth round as goals from Jon Walters, Cameron Jerome and Robert Huth earned  a 3-1 win at Gillingham this afternoon.

The prospect of a cup shock loomed large when Danny Kedwell put

the League Two side in front after 16 minutes, but Walters eased City nerves as

he fired under keeper Ross Flitney on 34 minutes.

Jerome put City in front a minute before the break before

Huth's header helped last year's finalists to victory. 

Tony Pulis was banned from the boardroom by Gills chairman

Paul Scally for the game. That followed their fall out after Pulis was axed as manager at the

Priestfield Stadium in 1999.

However, the Stoke boss was given a warm welcome by the home

fans as he waved to all four stands before kick off. 

Pulis  fielded a

strong side, including his first-choice centre back pairing Ryan Shawcross and

Robert Huth. 

Matthew Upson came in for Marc Wilson at left back, Cameron

Jerome replaced Matthew Etherington on the left,  Rory Delap and Wilson Palacios came in for

Glenn Whelan and Dean Whitehead in midfield and Kenwyne Jones replaced Peter

Crouch up front.

Asmir Begovic also got a first team chance as he stepped in

for Thomas Sorensen.

Gillingham were given a taste of what was to come as Lewis

Montrose headed just over his own bar after a Rory Delap long throw caused

problems in the home area.

But Stoke were given a warning on ten minutes when Jonathan Woodgate

had to get in a vital header against Kedwell to deny the striker a close-range opener.

City had no escape six minutes later when Danny Jackman's

cross from the left dropped to the Gills leading scorer. Kedwell made no

mistake as he sidefooted the ball past Begovic from six yards for his 11th

goal of the season.

Curtis Weston fired over from 25 yards as Stoke wobbled, but

City threatened on 22 minutes when Palacios whipped in a corner low to the near

post and but Shawcross back-heeled into the side netting.

Palacios's corner was headed inches over by Huth but Stoke's

frustration mounted as  Delap was booked

for a foul on Weston.

However, City levelled on 34 minutes after clever play from

Jerome and Walters. Jerome sent a perfectly weighted through ball to his team

mate who was one-on-one against keeper Ross Flitney.

The forward didn't strike the ball cleanly, but it was good

enough to beat Flitney who allowed the ball to go under his body and into the

middle of the net.

Stoke should have taken the lead on 42 minutes when Walters

volleyed a perfect cross for Jones at the back post. The striker seemed certain

to score when he rose above his marker, but he headed over from six yards.

But City took the lead on 44 minutes after Ryan Shotton won

a throw by the corner flag on the right. Delap's delivery was met by Shawcross

whose header hit the bar……but dropped down to Jerome who volleyed into the roof

of the net from a yard out.

Half Time

Gillingham 1 Stoke 2    

    

City extended their lead just four minutes into the second

half after winning a corner on the left. Palacios's inswinger was met by Robert

Huth who powered a header into the top corner.

Jerome's clever flick sent Walters racing through in the

area, but he was off-balance as he fired well over and into the Stoke fans.

Glenn Whelan replaced Ryan Shotton on 52 minutes , which

meant Rory Delap switching from the centre to the right-midfield spot vacated

by Shotton.

Dean Whitehead came on for Palacios on 61 minutes before

City came mightily close to a fourth a minute later. Whelan's inswinging free

kick rebounded to Jerome, but his strike from four yards was blocked by Flitney.

Goalscorer Kedwell was replaced by Dennis Oli on 63 minutes

before Luke Rooney came on for Matt Lawrence on 66.       

The travelling supporters roared their appreciation as

Ricardo Fuller was introduced on 73 minutes,  replacing Jones, who also got a rousing and

appreciative send off.

The substitute broke into the area almost immediately, but

his pull-back was cut out by Charlie Lee.

Fuller and Walters combined to free Jerome on goal on 77

minutes, but the ball appeared to bobble as Jerome skied his shot harmlessly

over.

Begovic turned substitute Luke Rooney's blistering strike

around the post on 83 minutes as Gillingham piled on the pressure in the

closing stages.

Fuller volleyed Whelan's corner just over in injury time but

it didn't matter as City took the first step on the road back to Wembley.

GILLINGHAM: Flitney, Lee, Richards, Lawrence (Rooney,

66),Frampton, Montrose (S Payne, 76,) J Payne, Whelpdale, Jackman, Weston,

Kedwell (Oli, 63).

Subs:  Fish, Davies,

Rance, Gazzaniga.

STOKE: Begovic, Woodgate, Huth, Shawcross, Upson, Shotton

(Whelan, 52), Delap, Palacios (Whitehead, 62), Jerome, Walters, Jones (Fuller,

73).

Subs: Higginbotham, Diao, Pennant, Nash.

Referee: Mark Halsey