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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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