Gillingham - 2 (Nosworthy 2. 4.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Freedman pen 29.)

The final morning of the season arrived, and though neither team could achieve very much in regards to their League position it was inevitable that some of the players would have had one eye on future contract negotiations. This would certainly have applied to the Palace players, looking perhaps nervously at just who might be the next manager at the Club. But that question remains to be answered, and may indeed take some time into the off-season, so it was time to settle back, enjoy the game, and see if Palace could perhaps conjure up a final three points for the season.

With Nayron Nosworthy "press ganged" into a centre-forward role from his customary defensive position, and ex-Palace player Simon Osborn in the Gillingham line-up, something was bound to happen, and happen it certainly did!

Palace got the game underway, and immediately conceded a corner that Alex Kolinko did well to tip over the bar as Paul Smith fired the ball goalwards. The next corner was wasted, but then Nosworthy made an unchallenged run on goal and simply fired the ball home to give the Gills a dream start. As the Palace faithful tried to accustom themselves to this shock the man then did it again. The ball was well flighted to him by Mamady Sidibe, and he charged straight back into the area and fired the ball past Alex once again. Only four minutes had elapsed, and Palace was already 2-0 down!

Dougie Freedman won a corner, and as Shaun Derry fired the cross in Dele Adebola was unlucky to see his header go just wide of the goalpost.

Tommy Black tried to play Wayne Routledge into space, but his pass was just too strong, and the chance went begging. Tommy then raced into the area, and as he was tackled he appealed, in vain, for a penalty. Danny Spiller fired a cross into our area, but Hayden Mullins was on hand to avert the danger, and following a foul on Sidibe it was Chris Hope that took the free kick that went easily into the arms of a grateful Alex. Nicky Southall should have done better with a cross that he fired straight out for a goal kick, and as Wayne went down close to the area at the other end Shaun Derry fired a shot that once again went wide of the mark.

Nosworthy nearly got free once again, and as Sidibe ran straight through Hayden saved the day, though his clearance nearly resulted in an own goal. Another corner to Palace was wasted and then Dougie Freedman got clear, his shot going way over the top of the bar. Southall was guilty of a poor challenge on Tommy, and this time the referee did award the penalty. Dougie stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way, and duly converted the chance to give us a lifeline back into the match.

Tommy attempted to lob the keeper, but his shot came down just the wrong side of the crossbar, and a series of poor challenges led to the referee attempting to calm matters down. It seemed to take an age before another chance fell to either side, and that was to Osborn, who fired a long-range effort just wide of the post.

Hayden became the first name in the book, for dissent, and though two minutes of injury time was added there was little further action, and the sides left for the usual half-time pep talks.

Gillingham got the second half underway, and it was Nosworthy once again that got free, and as he appeared to be in a one-on-one situation with Alex a very late offside flag appeared, much to the relief of the Palace contingent in the crowd. Paul Shaw tried a shot from the edge of the area that caused Alex little trouble, and then a most bizarre situation was witnessed from a free kick. Gillingham took the kick from fully seven yards further forward than it should have been taken, but Darren Powell averted the danger, only to be booked for being two yards closer than he should have been. To add insult to injury the free kick was then advanced ten yards from the original spot that the kick was taken, making it fully 17 yards further forward than it should have been. Fortunately Tony Popovic cleared the danger.

Dele made a good run into the area, but was well tackled by Barry Ashby, and Palace took the opportunity to make a substitution, Wayne giving way to Julian Gray. Dougie was caught offside, then a free kick at the other end saw Osborn pump the ball into our area, and Alex made a simple save, to maintain the status quo.

Sidibe was the next to be caught by a late offside decision, then a corner to Palace saw Tony attempt a header that was cleared by the Gillingham defence. Roland Edge brought Dele down on the line, but the free kick was cleared once again by a concerted defence. Andy Hessenthaler then introduced himself into the fray, replacing Osborn, and moments later David Perpetuini replaced Shaw.

Hessenthaler's first action was to bring down Tommy, and for his troubles he was booked, but Tommy received a card as well, presumably for the way he reacted to the tackle. The free kick was, of course, cleared, but then Dougie fired in a great shot that was only kept out by the reflexes of Jason Brown in the Gillingham goal. Shaun fired in a shot that went just wide of the post, and at the other end Nosworthy played Smith into the area, Alex making a brave move to save the situation, but unfortunately colliding with the player. This led to a long delay as Smith had to be carried off, and Richard Rose immediately replaced him.

Spiller fired a tame shot goalwards that gave Alex little trouble, and though four minutes was added on for injury time the only action saw Edge almost score, Tony being the saviour of the day. The match finished, Palace had failed in their quest, and they finished the season in 14th place. As to why Palace only made one substitution, and the attacking options open to the side were left on the bench, one will never know, but I guess Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant must know best. Next season can only be better!

Colin Pryce

Gillingham: Jason Brown, Nicky Southall, Barry Ashby, Chris Hope, Roland Edge, Paul Smith (Richard Rose 83), Danny Spiller, Simon Osborn (Andy Hessenthaler 73), Paul Shaw (David Perpetuini 75), Nayron Nosworthy, Mamady Sidibe.

Substitutes not used: Vince Bartram, Leon Johnson.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Darren Powell, Hayden Mullins, Tony Popovic, Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Steve Thomson, Wayne Routledge (Julian Gray 55), Tommy Black, Dougie Freedman, Dele Adebola.

Substitutes not used: Cedric Berthelin, Kit Symons, Ben Watson, Gareth Williams.

Attendance: 9,315

Referee: Mr M Jones (Cheshire)