Coventry City 0 - 1 Gillingham

Not even Dion Dublin of Manchester United fame was enough to sink them on 13 November 1996.

Coventry City 0 - 1 Gillingham

Nothing was going to stop the Gills on the night of the club's best game in its 103 year history. "The struggling second division side simply had the bigger hearts and the greater desire". Some would have said that things were looking up for Coventry's Premiership side. A new manager - a new outlook. The Gills were not upset by their high hopes - it spurred them on even more.

Gillingham had managed to earn themselves a replay from the previous events in the coca-cola cup. The team wandered onto Coventry's Highfield stadium with all the confidence and desire that they are known for - knowing that nothing could stop them in their way to glory.

The first half finished prettey un-eventful at 0-0. The only good shots both came from Coventry. The first, from Eoin Jess who put in a stinging snapshot which was brilliantly saved by Gillingham's Jim Stannard. The second came when Richard Shaw made a charge forward in the 39th minute. He took his shot 22 yards away from the goal and couldn't have hit it any better. However, Stannard dived full length to deny Coventry, again.

The second half whistle signalled to Gillingham that it was time to step up a gear. They hammered forward a volley of shots over the final 45 minutes. Steve Ogrizovic, the Coventry keeper did his best to keep out the shots but he finally had to concede defeat in the 72nd minute. Steve Butler crossed the ball in from the left hand side to where Neil Smith was waiting 10 yards from the goal mouth. Smith kept his cool and calmly slotted the ball firmly into the bottom right hand corner of the net. From that moment on, no-one could keep the 4,000 Gills fans quiet.

Coventry tried their best to knock in a late equaliser. Even their new-found manager, Gordon Strachan rushed on to lend a hand but nothing they attempted was too much for Jim Stannard.

Neil Smith (25) began his career at Tottenham Hotspur but never made a first-team appearence. He joined Gillingham in October 1991 for £40,000 and has become a regular - appearing in well over 200 games for his club. His best position is supplying the goals, in fact he averages only two goals per season but none of them have been quite as momentous as this one. "It was the best night of my career. Everything seemed to go in slow motion when I scored the goal. I knew I just had to make contact and get it on target. It was certainly the most brilliant goal I have ever scored and a brilliant night for the club."

"Everyone in that team was a hero tonight."