Gillingham - 4 (Asaba 32. 62. 79. Onuora 90.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Freedman 73.)

Taking an unusual lineup into this match, we were faced with the prospect of Dougie Freedman listed as a midfield player with Neil Ruddock and Simon Rodger relegated to the bench. Simon never made the field of play, but maybe this was due to a niggling injury? Neil could have been there for disciplinary reasons, but I guess Alan will be the only one ever to know the truth behind that move.

Palace started the match by far the more likely side, with many chances going astray. Clinton Morrison was the first to fire a shot at goal, but Vince Bartram was equal to the task, tipping the ball over the top. Morrison and Mikael Forssell both then went close before Hayden Mullins shot wide of the mark. Another effort from Mullins sailed just over the top before our luck started to change. Alex Kolinko was penalised for bringing down Paul Shaw, but then skipper Paul Smith and Nicky Southall combined well to present Carl Asaba with the easiest of tap-ins to open the scoring.

It looked as though that was going to be the sum of the first half scoring until Andrejs Rubins made a great solo run into the goalmouth area where Bartram pulled him down and gave away a penalty. Neil Ruddock, having only just come on for the injured Dean Austin, stepped up for the kick and saw the keeper miraculously keep the ball out. To add insult to injury Morrison then followed up the loose ball, but Bartram saved again.

1-0 was indeed the half time score, and Alan would have had a few words to say.

A number of further bookings took place at the start of the second period of play, but a cross once again from Southall was met by Asaba who made no mistake burying the ball in the back of the net. 2-0 down, was the game all but over?

Within 10 minutes we were back in the game when the referee ruled that Chris Hope had handled the ball in the area, and once again he pointed to the penalty spot. Having missed our last five penalties in League matches, despite scoring so well in the penalty shoot-out against Tranmere just who would take this one? Dougie stepped forward, and this time there was no mistake and the game was back to 2-1.

Unfortunately it did not stay that way long. A poor clearance by Alex saw Asaba nip in and score his third of the afternoon and then Junior Lewis attempted a drive that the keeper beat away, Marlon King hit the woodwork and then Iffy Onuora drove the ball home to make it 4-1 in injury time.

To say that Alan was not pleased would be an understatement.

Colin Pryce

Gillingham: Vince Bartram, Roland Edge, Chris Hope, Barry Ashby, Mark Saunders, Junior Lewis, Nicky Southall, Adrian Pennock, Paul Smith (Andy Hessenthaler 90), Paul Shaw (Marlon King 36), Carl Asaba (Iffy Onuora 84).

Substitutes not used: Mark Patterson, Guy Butters.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Jamie Smith, Dean Austin (Neil Ruddock 44), Fan Zhiyi, Hayden Mullins, Dougie Freedman, Andrejs Rubins, Tommy Black (Wayne Carlisle 66), Jamie Pollock, Mikael Forssell, Clinton Morrison.

Substitutes not used: Steve Thomson, Craig Harrison, Simon Rodger.

Attendance: 10,518

Referee: Mr A Kaye (Wakefield).