Gills set for possible banna skin

By Jack Nolan
November 9 2006

Gillingham kick start thier FA Cup campaign this Saturday at Priestfield when they take on Bromley. Bromley are top of the Ryman League Premier Division and have already beaten Gills this season coming from a one nil win in pre-season.

Gillingham v Bromley
Priestfield Stadium
11/11/2006
K.O 15:00
FA Cup First Round Proper

Gillingham Team News

Gillingham will have to do without the services of on loan defender Ben Chorley for the visit of 'local rivals' Bromley this Saturday at Priestfield.

Chorley has been cup-tied by MK Dons to ensure the Don's could still play Chorley should he return to Milton Keynes after his three month loan deal.

Dean McDonald is set to win back a place up front after scoring the winner against Chesterfield on Saturday and a very below par performance by Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu.

Gillingham boss Ronnie Jepson may give some of his youngsters a run out from the bench including the likes of Sean Clohessy, Craig Stone and Frannie Collin.

Bromley Team News

The Lilywhites are expected to bring back Gills 'favourite' Simon Osborn for the first round of the FA Cup proper. Osborn initially accepted a contract offer with Gills before pulling out of the deal to join Wallsall instead.

Whereas Mark Cornielle was one of the unlucky ones to be released by Gills boss Ronnie Jepson at the end of last season.


One to Watch: Nic McDonnell - McDonnell is Bromley's top goalscorer this season with an impressive eleven goals from sixteen games. The former Croydon, Crawley Town, St Albans City and Carshalton Athletic man scored on his debut and became a first team regular.

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Ronnie Jepson

"It will be a tough encounter against Bromley. We have seen them a couple of times. They are a good, big side with some good players and a bit of experience. They pass the ball well, have good height and a bit of strength in the team. We will give them all the respect that they deserve on Saturday, same as we would to any team coming here. They have had some very good results this season. They beat a good side in Grays in the last round. We have seen Grays numerous times and they are no mugs. We will be up for a very tough match on Saturday afternoon.

"I remember Mark Goldberg from his days at Crystal Palace as Chairman. He is a good lad. We played Bromley in pre-season and they beat us 1-0. He now has the reigns as Manager and he is doing a very good job up there, so full credit to him. He shows his love of the game as he gets his boots on and gets on the training ground. I was at Bromley last night to watch them play Tooting and Mitcham, and you can see that he has got an appetite for it, as have his players. Fair play to him.

"I think the FA Cup is a great occasion for everybody, for the Gillingham people, for the Bromley people and everyone else involved in the FA Cup. It is nice that we still have one of those English traditions left. It is something that is part of our history on the football side of things and for us to get through to this round and the next and reach the Third Round, to draw one of the big boys, it would be great for the players and the supporters. The FA Cup means a lot to the players and the supporters and my team will be up for it and trying to get the right result on Saturday.

"It is massive for us but so are our league games. If you win all your league games, the higher you go up the league and the more supporters you attract. Teams like Bromley and ourselves, we look to progress through the rounds and draw one of the big boys. That helps us out financially. My players are not playing thinking about the Third Round, they are playing on Saturday and wanting to win to reach the next round.

"You will see them results again this year. Last year, there was more than just Gillingham. There were a few and it happens every year. That is the beauty of the FA Cup. It is great for the smaller teams like ourselves to beat the big boys, same as it would be for Bromley if they beat us. The players are professional people so I don't need to go back to last year. They know what the FA Cup is about and they know about banana skins and we need to make sure that we are not one of them.

"We drill into the players before every game that we play that we respect the team that we play against, whether that be Bromley or teams in our league. We prepare ourselves in the right manner for every game and give the players all the right information. They won't be no pushovers but we will go out there and play in the right manner and with the right tempo. It is a local derby too, as they are from just up the road, so that adds a little bit of spice to it. Hopefully we can take that onto the field of play and get the right result on Saturday."

Mark Goldberg

"The players are capable of causing a bit of a disturbance down there. I’ll make sure we’re confident.

"The FA Cup is a dream. We couldn’t have asked for anything more really. It’s a local derby. We’ll relish the challenge."

Ticket News:

Tickets for the Kent derby game shall cost:

Adult: £17
Senior Citizen (Over 65): £15
Student: £15
Under 16's: £10
Under 7's: £5

Supporters must ensure that they keep their ticket stubs, in the event of a replay being needed to decide the tie.



Meanwhile the draw for the second round of the FA Cup shall take place at 16:10 on Sunday and Gillingham's ball number is 24.