Let’s rewind 17 years for the fourth instalment of the series…
City 2 Gillingham 2 (City won 3-1 on penalties), 30 May 1999
City secured promotion to the First Division in the most exciting (or nerve-wrecking, depending how you look at it!) way possible against Gillingham at Wembley.
All the goals came in the final ten minutes of normal time as Gillingham took a 2-0 lead through Carl Asaba and Robert Taylor before City fought back in the final few minutes.
Kevin Horlock reduced the deficit in the 90th minute before the comeback was complete with almost the final kick of the game when Paul Dickov fired in from the edge of the area.
The two sides couldn’t be separated in extra time so it was penalties to decide the winner and Nicky Weaver saved the crucial spot kick to spark jubilant celebrations at the national stadium.
Match highlights
Starting XIs
City: Weaver, Crooks (Taylor 85), Edghill, Wiekens, Morrison (c) (Vaughan 61), Horlock, Brown (Bishop 61), Whitley, Dickov, Goater, Cooke.
Gillingham: Bartram, Southall, Ashby, Smith, Butters, Pennock, Patterson (Hodge 105), Hessenthaler (c), Asaba (Carr 87), Galloway (Saunders 56), Taylor.
Key Moments
27’ – Stunning save from Vince Bartram denies Kevin Horlock’s downward header from three yards out!
37’ – Richard Edghill throws himself at a pinpoint ball in from Terry Cooke but the full back’s header is just wide.
38’ – Gillingham think they’ve opened the scoring but Carl Asaba is adjudged to be offside.
75’ – Cooke’s ball in finds Shaun Goater at the back post and he sees his shot hit the base of the upright and bounce clear!
80’ – Cooke stings the palms of Bartram with a brilliant left-footed drive.
81’ – Goal – Gillingham take the lead after Asaba pokes the ball past the on-rushing Nicky Weaver.
82’ – Incredible save from Weaver to deny Robert Taylor’s right-footed volley and keep the score at 1-0.
87’ – Goal – Gillingham double their lead through Taylor, who smashes past Weaver from Asaba’s back heel.
90’ – GOAL! – City pull one back through Horlock as he smashes the ball home from the edge of the area!
90’ – Five minutes of additional time are signalled by the fourth official. Can City find another?!
90+5’ – GOALLLLL! – City are level! Paul Dickov fires into the roof of the net to send the Play-Off final to extra time! Get in!
120 – The two sides can’t be separated in extra time and a penalty shootout will decide who will be promoted to the First Division…
Penalties
City: GOAL! – Horlock sends Bartram the wrong way. 1-0.
Gillingham: SAVED! – Weaver saves Paul Smith’s penalty with his legs! 1-0.
City: MISS! – City’s hero of the day, Paul Dickov, sees his penalty bounce off both posts and stay out. 1-0.
Gillingham: MISS! – Adrian Pennock misses the target from twelve yards out! 1-0.
City: GOAL! – Cooke buries his penalty in the bottom corner! 2-0.
Gillingham: Goal – John Hodge holds his nerve and places his spot kick in the top corner. 2-1.
City: GOAL! City restore their two-goal advantage as Edghill sees his penalty go in off the crossbar. 3-1.
Gillingham: SAVED! Weaver denies Guy Butters to spark jubilant celebrations on the pitch and in the stands! City are promoted to the First Division!
Man of the Match
Paul Dickov, but Nicky Weaver was a close second!
