Match 66
Venue Deepdale
FA Cup 2nd Round
Preston 2 Gillingham 0
Amission £10
Programme £3
Attendance 5,271
Distance Travelled 7 miles
Preston always looked a step above the Gills and went into an early lead - followed by a second after a defensive error . PNE had to rely on a solid goalkeeping display from their keeper Stuckmann who made two class saves in each half to keep North End in the driving seat . A low drive accross the goal line was inches from being converted ' Gazza Euro 96 style ' as the Gills crept more into the game .
The men from Priestfield let the men from Priest Town off the hook after the restart when Burton fired wide with a penalty kick . North End had a shot come back off the post and a goal ruled out for a foul on the Gills keeper .
The outfit from Kent pushed forward and were caught on the break several times but The Lillywhites failed to capitalise . A World class striker like Van Persie would have scored three for Gillingham with the few but quality chances they created , at this level North End got out of jail . Burton is hard working and takes up some good positions - a few years ago he probably would have scored twice but he's lost that extra bit of pace for todays higher levels .
Last year Preston sacked their manager when in a similar position in the league . One year on and with a completely different team the jury is still out .
