Gills FA Cup campaign kicks off this weekend with a trip to Hereford of the National League North.
Hereford FC v Gillingham
Emirates FA Cup First Round
Edgar Street
Saturday November 4
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Tim Dieng will be available for selection in Clemence’s squad, having fully recovered from a knee injury sustained at Grimsby. The midfielder has also had time to regain some fitness in training, having not featured against Newport last weekend.
Oli Hawkins and Ashley Nadesan remain out of contention for a place in the squad, as both players continue to edge closer to making their returns from heel and ankle injuries respectively.
Shaun Williams is available having featured as a second half substitute against Newport at Priestfield. Robbie McKenzie could also potentially make a return to the squad.
Lewis Walker is eligible for selection too having been recalled from his loan stint at Woking.
As for Hereford, there are no fresh injury or suspension concerns. Former Walsall midfielder, Paul Downing, could feature. Andy Williams, formerly of Doncaster and Cheltenham, should also be available.
Bulls Manager Paul Caddis will serve a touchline ban having picked up a third yellow card of the season when his team faced Chorley last weekend.
The thoughts from both camps...
Ethan Freemantle (Hereford player): "It's like any other game for us. There is a belief among us. It's a massive tournament, especially for clubs at this level."
Stephen Clemence: “I’m delighted to be here and can’t wait to get going with the players. I’ve my own ideas and I’m looking forward to working with the boys on those.
“It’s a process, things won’t change overnight, the football we want to play takes time, but the work starts on Saturday.
“It’s the FA Cup. Hereford will be a tough opposition, but if we can get through them, you win a couple of games and you’re in the hat for a big tie in the third round. We’ll have a game plan, and we’ll go there to win.
“Every game is a challenge, there’s no easy games in English football.
We’ll have a game plan, and we’ll go there to win.”
Previous Meeting:
Our last encounter with Hereford (then Hereford United) came on a cold Tuesday evening in February 2012, the Herefordshire team travelling to Priestfield for an entertaining match in League Two.
An evening that saw plenty of goal action, Andy Hessenthaler’s men coming out as 5-4 winners on the night in a famous victory.
Head-to-Head:
Gillingham – 10
Draw – 9
Hereford FC – 9
The Gills have never faced Hereford FC (in its current form), since being re-formed in 2014 in place of the former club, Hereford United.
The record against the former iteration, Hereford United, was split evenly across history, Gillingham recording nine league wins to Hereford United’s eight, whenever the clubs both occupied a place in the same league competition throughout the years.
Two previous meetings in the FA Cup saw both clubs pick up a solitary win to progress in the competition.
Ticket information:
Tickets are only available to purchase online, and so will not be available on the gate at Edgar Street.
Click here for further ticket info:
https://herefordfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/gillingham_fa_cup
Match Officials:
Referee – Ollie Yates
Assistants – Emily Carney & Thomas Harty
Fourth Official – Callum Fisk
Odds:
Hereford Win – 18/5
Draw – 16/5
Gillingham Win – 11/20
Special Bet: Cheye Alexander to score and Gillingham to win – 5/1.
Sat Nav: HR4 9JU