Report: Burnley 3 - 1 Gillingham

Burnley advanced to the 5th round of the FA Cup with this comfortable victory over Gillingham. The result means that the Clarets are in the last 16 for the second year running and there's now a great chance of tie with a big club or that lucrative television match which would help the club out financially.

There were a couple of changes to the side that drew with West Brom with Richard Chaplow replacing Luke Chadwick and Alan Moore taking the place of Graham Branch on the left.

The game started the same as last weeks with a series of hard tackles being made by the visitors. There were no real chances in the opening half hour, however the game was always threatening to produce something with both Glen Little and Robbie Blake causing the Gills all sorts of problems. The opening goal arrived on the half hour when a cross from the left by Mo Camara was headed into the net by Ian Moore. A few seconds later and the score line was doubled with Blake hitting a superb free-kick into the corner of the goal with Bossu stranded on his line.

Gillingham began to lose their rag with Little as he was beating his men with such ease that they simply resorted to kicking him into the Longside. Johnson, Henderson and Hills were all booked within the space of a few minutes. The half ended with Stan having a bust up with referee Laws before the police intervened and escorted Mr Laws off the pitch.

The second half started the same as the first finished, with Burnley on top and playing the better football of the two sides. Ian Moore broke the offside trap and was through on goal despite being held back by Hope. Credit must go to Moore who managed to stay on his feet, when many forwards would have gone down and got the opposing player sent off, only to see is shot well saved by Bossu.

We got the third in the 70th minute when Moore sent a low cross into the box which was met by Blake and turned into the net. The Gills did manage to pull a goal back shortly afterwards with Henderson scoring but there was no way back for them.

Mo Camara wasted a great chance when he was all alone in the box but he shot wide as did Ian Moore shortly afterwards with his angled drive. Blake and Little teased and tormented the visitors but there was to be no more goals for the Clarets.

It was a good day all round, with Bradford losing in the league, and the excitement is all ready building, in anticipation for the 5th Round draw.

Burnley:-
Jensen, Roche, Camara, May, McGregor, Little, Grant, Chaplow, A.Moore(Branch 67), I.Moore, Blake.

Subs:- Abbey, Gnohere, West and Chadwick.

Gillingham:-
Bossu, Nosworthy, Hills, Hope, Smith, Ashby, Hessenthaler, Henderson, T.Johnson(Jarvis 83), Spiller(L.Johnson 80) and Poulton(James 62).

Subs:- Knowles and Croft

Referee:- Graham Laws

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