Preview: Gillingham

16 November 2021

There's a place in the Emirates FA Cup second round at stake at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium this evening when Cheltenham Town host Gillingham (kick-off: 7.45pm).

Nothing could separate the two sides when they first met at Priestfield at the start of the month, so they lock horns once again with a trip to fellow League One side AFC Wimbledon guranteed for the winners.

Matchday tickets are £12 for adults and £6 for concessions for fans looking for an FA Cup fix as Michael Duff's side also look to claim the £22,629 prize money that would come with a win.

Fans are recommended to arrive early to collect tickets for tonight's game with a large number of collections expected for those who have purchased ahead of matchday.

Team news

Little has changed from the state of Michael Duff's squad from the last time they faced the Gills ten days ago.

Will Boyle and Charlie Raglan (pictured) remain out, with the latter having now had surgery, while Callum Wright and Taylor Perry both miss the game too.

Media talk

Michael Duff is predicting a tight affair when the two teams go head-to-head.

"They had a really good result at Sheffield Wednesday," he said in his press conference on Monday morning.

"They look like they could have picked up a couple of injuries so we don't know what team they're going to play.

"The first game was a game of two halves. It will be a tight game. If you look at the league positions we're in similar positions."

You can watch all of Duff's pre-game thoughts on iFollow, where striker Christian Norton has also been speaking ahead of the match.

Opposition

Whereas it was a free weekend for Cheltenham, Gillingham made the trip up to south Yorkshire to take on Sheffield Wednesday and picked up a point in a 1-1 draw.

The Gills are 19th and two points above the drop zone in League One after 17 matches.

They visit Cheltenham on Tuesday with plenty of Football League experience in their ranks. From Max Ehmer at the back, to midfield man Stuart O'Keefe, to attack minded players John Akinde and Whitehaven born midfielder Kyle Dempsey.

In the FA Cup, the Gills best ever run in the competition actually started with an FA Cup first round replay win over Cheltenham in the 1999/2000 season. They went onto defeat Darlington, Walsall, Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals where they eventually lost to Chelsea.

The manager: Steve Evans

Steve Evans began his managerial career in non-league football having started originally managing a grassroots side at the end of a playing career spent entirely in Scotland.

He progressed into the Football League and has taken charge at the likes of Crawley Town, Rotherham United, Leeds United, Mansfield Town and Peterborough before being appointed Gills boss in 2019.

Tickets

You can buy online for tonight's game with tickets now priced at £12 for adults and £6 for concessions.

Tickets are also available to buy on the night though it's recommended you leave plenty of time to do so. Autovillage Stand tickets can be bought from the ticket office, Colin Farmer Stand tickets from next to the Parklands turnstiles and standing tickets from the Portakabin in the car park.

There are a significant number of tickets to be collected this evening. Fans are advised to arrive early to leave time before kick-off to do this. They can be collected from the Portakabin in the main car park, or if you are in the Colin Farmer Stand from just outside the Parklands turnstiles.

Match programme

Elliot Bonds is the big interview in Tuesday's match programme as the Guyana international midfielder discusses his loan so far at Kidderminster Harriers and his return to fitness after a long-term lay-off because of the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered last season.

The programme is on sale around the stadium at a price of £2 and can also be bought online.

Coverage

Social media: Follow @CTFCofficial on Twitter for updates throughout the evening. You can also view score updates and team news on Facebook and Instagram.

Highlights: You can watch match highlights on The FA Player when they are uploaded online.

Radio: Listen to live full match commentary by buying an audio match pass on iFollow or on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 1-0 Gillingham

16 November 2021

Mattie Pollock scored the only goal to send Cheltenham Town into the FA Cup second round courtesy of a 1-0 win over Gillingham at the Jonny Rocks Stadium.

Chris Hussey’s corner was knocked down by Kyle Vassell at the back post and Pollock converted from inside the six-yard box to score in back-to-back matches.

The Robins had a catalogue of chances to extend their lead but the second goal proved elusive.

Cheltenham will face AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane in the next round on the weekend of December 4.

The Robins controlled the first half and took a deserved lead in the 11th minute when Pollock scored his second goal in as many matches for the Robins. Hussey, whose deliveries proved a constant menace from the left, located Vassell at the back post with his corner. The forward peeled away from his marker to cushion his header down and Pollock pounced inside the six-yard box to nudge the ball home.

A second proved elusive as Cheltenham failed to convert a string of significant chances. Vassell was flagged offside when he stung the palms of Aaron Chapman and later came agonisingly close to connecting with a teasing low cross from Sean Long inside the six-yard box.

Christian Norton also climbed above his marker to nod another cross from Hussey wide of the near post as Gillingham struggled to contain an efficient first half performance from the Robins.

Gillingham may have offered little in terms of attacking chances but Cheltenham still had to stay on their toes at the back. On a rare foray forward from the Gills, Danny Lloyd cushioned Ben Reeves’ low cross down inside the box but was expertly thwarted by a crucial block from Lewis Freestone.

The visitors stepped up their efforts at the beginning of the second half but failed to test Flinders from a series of corners. Cheltenham retook control of proceedings and frequently unlocked the Gillingham defence on the counter-attack.

Norton escaped the clutches of Gillingham skipper Stuart O’Keefe, who then cynically tugged him back. The Cheltenham marksman stayed on his feet but was thwarted by Chapman from close-range.

The chances kept coming for the Robins with Pollock missing the target from a free header and Thomas rippling the side netting with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box. Their threat on the counter-attack further intensified when Michael Duff introduced Alfie May and Kyle Joseph at the expense of Crowley and Norton with little under 20 minutes remaining.

Gillingham lost both Lloyd and Reeves respectively through injury either side of half-time and frustration grew as the contest slowly ebbed away from them. The dynamism added by Joseph and May exposed a tiring Gils defence with May particularly pulling the strings in attack.

The Robins were still looking for a second in stoppage time and had chances to do so. Chapman denied Vassell by literally sitting on his close range effort and Joseph and May also missed the target.

Cheltenham did everything but find the second but produced a classy and dominant display which they always looked in control of. Cheltenham’s place in the next round is sealed and they return to league action with the visit of Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

Cheltenham Town (3-5-2): S Flinders; M Blair, S Long, M Pollock, L Freestone, C Hussey; L Sercombe (D Barkers 90), C Thomas, D Crowley (A May 72); K Vassell , C Norton (K Joseph 72).

Subs not used: O Evans, G Horton, W Armitage, A Williams.

Gillingham: A Chapman; R Jackson, J Akinde, M Ehmer, B Akehurst; D Adshead, J Tucker, B Reeves (J Gbode 62); D Lloyd (G Sithole 34), D Phillips (H Lintott 84).

Subs not used: J Cummings.

Attendance: 2,651 (138)

Referee: Lee Swabey

Ticket News

Tickets just a tenner and fiver for Tuesday's FA Cup replay

13 November 2021

Don't miss out on the advance ticket prices for Tuesday evening's FA Cup first round replay against Gillingham at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Tickets are just £10 for adults and £5 for concessions when bought in advance of matchday on Tuesday.

Support Michael Duff's side as they look to find a way of getting past Gillingham in the first round replay after the two sides drew 1-1 in their first meeting.

The winners of the game will progress into the second round and face an away fixture at fellow League One side AFC Wimbledon.

Tickets for Tuesday night's game are available to buy online and can also be purchased from the ticket office.

Prices go up to £12 for adults and £6 concessions on matchday so it's advised that you buy early.

Kick-off on the night is at 7.45pm as the Robins look to progress in the competition after a fantastic experience last season in reaching round four and taking on Manchester City.

Cheltenham Town FC

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