Stefan Payne scores Gillingham's third goal Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham clinched a place in round two of the FA Cup after beating League 1 Bournemouth at Priestfield on Tuesday night.

Curtis Weston (pictured) put the Gills ahead midway through the first half but it was all-square early in the second when Andy Frampton turned a cross into his own net.

The Gills were back ahead when Garry Richards slotted home on 75 minutes and moments later they added a third through substitute Stefan Payne.

A free-kick from Harry Arter sailed in during stoppage time to make for a nervy end to the game.

It was boss Andy Hessenthaler’s first cup win since returning to the Gills as manager.

Gillingham made an electric start to the cup tie but long shots from Jack Payne, Weston and Charlie Lee failed to trouble visiting keeper Darryl Flahavan.

The visitors, from a division above, were barely out of their own half in the opening 30 minutes and they found themselves a goal behind with 21 minutes gone.

Weston, who was chief architect in Gills’ impressive start to the game, claimed a deserved goal with a low effort that was drilled into the bottom corner through a crowd of players.

Bournemouth improved as the half wore on but their finishing deserted them.

Gills captain Frampton was back in the team and he made several vital interceptions, which left the visitors boasting just the solitary effort on target in the first half.

On that occasion keeper Ross Flitney was there to divert Simon Francis’ shot wide with a minute of the half remaining.

The Gills made a change at the break with Stefan Payne joining Kedwell upfront to form a two-pronged attack. He came on for Chris Whelpdale.

Bournemouth came out with more urgency in the second half and Charlie Lee had to make a clearance from infront of goal early on, before Harry Arter flashed a shot wide, after Jack Payne lost the ball.

At the other end Stefan Payne tried his luck after cutting in from the wing but Flahavan dived and saved.

The game was level on 55 minutes when Lee was beaten on the flank by Scott Malone and the cross was turned into his own net by Frampton.

With just over an hour gone Flitney kept the scores level with a great block to deny Andy Pugh after two Bournemouth players found themselves unmarked inside the Gills penalty area.

Just as Bournemouth were getting into their stride the Gills struck a second when Lee’s cross found its way to Richards and he slotted home the second.

With seven minutes left Andy Hessenthaler’s side made it 3-1 when Frampton’s long ball forward was taken down by Stefan Payne and expertly smashed into the bottom corner.

Bournemouth scored a second to make things tense in the first minute of stoppage time, with a great free-kick from Arter, but the Gills hung on and will now face Leyton Orient on December 3 in the next round.

Gillingham: Flitney, Frampton, Richards, Martin, Lee, J Payne, Montrose, Weston (Rance 90mins), Whelpdale (S Payne 46mins), Oli (Fish 81mins), Kedwell. Subs: Fish, Rance, Evans, Gazzaniga, Miller.

Bournemouth: Flahavan, Barrett, Zubar, Arter, Francis, Cummings (Gregory 83mins), Purches (Cooper 78mins), Pugh, Malone, Thomas, Symes (Fletcher 78mins). Subs: Jalal, Carmichael, Lindsey, Gregory, Taylor.

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