FA Cup Third Round: Gillingham FC 1 Stoke City 3

Andy Hessenthaler's Gillingham side put on a courageous display in today's FA Cup Third Round tie, but the chance of a Cup run was extinguished by high flying Premiership side Stoke City.

With the game only being confirmed yesterday due to a row over policing in the Priestfield Stadium, it was an uncertain return to the club by former manager Tony Pulis, who took Gillingham to Wembley in the 1999 League Two Play Off final. He was subsequently sacked by owner Paul Scally, but received a warm welcome from the supporters, who, together with the travelling fans, were in good voice throughout the game.

The first five to ten minutes were all Stoke but then the Gills stepped it up and took an early lead, thanks to a Danny Kedwell goal in the middle of a goalmouth scramble, following a corner on 16 minutes. They looked comfortable at 1-0 for a while but Stoke were always a threat with the long ball up to their front three. It was a simple mistake that led to Stoke's equaliser, with a poor clearance falling to Walters, who passed it under the body of Flitney and into the goal on 34 minutes.

A lack of chances hindered the Gills in the first half and it was just before the whistle blew for the break that Jerome took advantage of a static Gills defence, knocking the ball in at the far post. It was disappointing for the the Gills to go in 2-1 down as they'd deserved to be at least level at that point.

With the Gills defence again failing to deal with the ball in the box from a corner, Stoke took command not long after the restart, with Huth the scorer on 49 minutes. They were in the ascendency then until the last twenty minutes, when team changes made by the Gills produced a more attacking formation which opened up the game, producing a few good half chances. Gillingham had twelve corners in total but they just couldn't make the breakthrough.

All in all, a thoroughly entertaining game with Gillingham putting on a fine performance against a team 66 places above them in the league. Danny Jackman was the well deserved Man of the Match for Gillingham.