Draw Keeps Gillingham in the Hunt for Premiership Big Guns

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Gillingham's quest for playing one of the Premiership's big boys in the FA Cup third round is still on track, after a goalless draw at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium meant there will be a replay at Edgeley Park.

In a game where Gillingham were made to rue countless missed opportunities, poor refereeing decisions and a strong Stockport defence meant that Gillingham will have a tough task if they are to actually play the team they will draw in the third round.

A trip hundreds of miles up north on a cold Tuesday night is not what Gillingham had in mind as the outcome of today's game, but that's what it will be.

On the evidence of Stockport's home form, and indeed at times their performance today, it will be no easy task as Stockport too will try to look for one the Premiership's big guns in the next round.

There will be no question Gillingham were the better side in this match, and had several chances to get that winning goal, but with manager Mark Stimson not bringing on key strikers Gary Mulligan and Mark McCammon until it was too late, no-one really expected stand-in striker Adam Miller to get any goals, or indeed help strike partner Simeon Jackson in any way. 

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After seeing his team produce some fantastic football against a side a league above them, manager Mark Stimson was pleased with the way Gillingham performed today.

He said: "At half-time I said to the players: That was the best 45 minutes I’ve seen since I’ve been here.

"The biggest decision of the day was for the referee to make when Jackson was through and their big centre half was climbing all over him. We didn’t get a free-kick; we didn’t get anything from it. That could have changed the game.

"It was a great FA Cup tie, it was like rolling back the years and the fans should go home proud of the players."

However, he once again seemed oblivious to the fact that we wasted countless opportunities and did not score.

(www.kentonline.co.uk)