By Jack Nolan
November 11 2006

Gillingham have progressed to the second round of the FA Cup after a very tense derby game at Priestfield. Goals from Mark Bentley and Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu saw the Gills progress to the second round of the FA Cup.
Gillingham.4.1.Bromley
Priestfield Stadium
11/11/2006
FA Cup First Round Proper


The Gills went into the game knowing that they had to respect their Ryman Premier League opposition who are still unbeaten in league games and had beat them in pre-season. Gillingham fans will also remember the embarrasing first round defeat at Burscough last season.

Gillingham boss Ronnie Jepson chose to field a strong side knowing the threat of the Ryman Premier leaders playing star player Matty Jarvis. Last weeks match winner Dean McDonald started the game replacing Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu upfront with Jepson knowing the importance of a good cup run this season.

Bromley sold out their allocation of nearly 1,500 tickets for the Kent derby with the Bromley fans hoping for a cup upset. But the Gills got off to the better start and were playing good football but were failing to create any good chances. Bromley however had a good opportunity to take a shock lead only for Sam Wood's effort to go well over the crossbar.

The Gills were forced into making an early substitution though when Leon Johnson collided with a Bromley player picking up what looked like a nasty knock and looked in some pain when walking down the touchline. But before that the Gillingham defence was looking a bit dodgy in front of the non-league outfit, and Brent Sancho's long waited return to the first team was welcomed by the Priestfield crowd.

Gillingham fans were relieved though when the Gills finally took the lead on the half hour mark. Matt Jarvis' ball to Gary Mulligan was flicked on by the striker to Mark Bentley who headed home from at most one foot from the goal.

The Gills went in at half time one goal up but far from the dominant side. Following the half time interval Kelvin Jack did well to keep the Gills one up. A well taken free kick by Woods was well saved by the Trinidian.

Bentley then bagged a brace on the hour mark when he fired home from six yards out following a Clint Easton cross.

Twenty minutes from time however, Bromley were straight back in it. Danger man Mic McDonnell cleared Gills defender Brent Sancho and got one on one with 'keeper Kelvin Jack and slotted home to the delight of the Bromley fans.

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu came on to replace Dean McDonald and secured Gillinghams progression to the second round with a latre double. Guylain slotted home from close range for his first and then scored an impressive curler for his second.

The Gills running out easy winners on paper, but were far from the dominant side.

Views:

"We got the result that we wanted, but first and foremost, we need to give full credit to Bromley. They came here today and had a real go, and their Manager and fans can be proud of them and their performance. It was there for an upset today as the pitch was bobbly and it was quite windy. I have to give credit to my players too as they stuck to the task. We knew that if we could get the ball down in the second-half and stick at it, as it was a bit hectic in the first-half, we would create chances, and we did.

"Everybody has come here today and some people were maybe expecting us to slip up, which happens in the First Round of the FA Cup. Credit to my boys for sticking at it, as it was a bit airy in the first 45 minutes. In the second-half, we played to our strengths a bit more and played better football, as we never got it down in the first-half. You do have to give Bromley a bit of credit for that though as they went about it and got in our faces. They made it difficult for us to play.

"We got the ball down better in the second-half. We managed to get the ball out in the wide areas to Clint Easton. I could see from the touchline how difficult it was with the wind and the bobbles. That didn't help us. We did create more chances once we got the ball down.

"People will come here and make it difficult for us and not be bossed. It was a massive game for Bromley and they came here and got in our faces, put their foot and head in. I told the boys to stick at it as we were not at our best in the first-half and we got our rewards in the end.

"Kelvin Jack made a great save when their lad got through on one. You would expect to get you scares in an FA Cup tie. It was a great occasion for Bromley, as it was for us, and they were not going to come here and just be cannon fodder. They came and had a right go at it today but I just thought we had that little bit more in the end quality-wise. The quality got us there in that we passed it in the right-areas and made chances. Before we got the third goal, we had numerous chances and then we managed to get on a couple. That was pleasing.

"Leon Johnson got a bang on his knee. He will have a scan tomorrow morning and we will take it from there. Brent Sancho come on and he looked good today. He has been working hard in training and he needed that today. Hopefully that will put him in good stead for next Saturday."