Adam Birchall celebrates his goal fro Dover against Gillingham Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Dover humbled their Kent neighbours Gillingham at Priestfield on Saturday in the first round of the FA Cup.

Gillingham ended the game with ten men and the embarrassment of losing to a team two divisions below them.

It heaped further pressure on Gills boss and former Whites manager Andy Hessenthaler as his League 2 side stumbled to a new low.

For the 2,300 visiting fans from Dover and manager Martin Hayes it was sheer delirium in Gillingham. The win for Dover puts them in the second round for the first time in the present club's history.

The Whites were 2-0 ahead at the break thanks to a brilliant goal from scoring sensation Adam Birchall and a blunder at the back from the Gills that led to a second.

Gillingham improved after half-time but had trouble getting past Dover keeper Ross Flitney. Hessenthaler's men had to play the final 20 minutes with ten men after John Nutter's professional foul on Harry Baker.

Birchall's 20th goal of the season opened the scores as he fired home on 18 minutes into the top corner from 25 yards.

Moments later Dennis Oli limped out of action for the Gills and it got worse for Andy Hessenthaler's men nine minutes later when Nutter gave the ball away. A cross from Birchall led to a shot from Harry Baker, that was blocked, but it fell into the path of Luke I'Anson and he netted past Alan Julian.

The Gills came close to pulling a goal back, when Danny Spiller hit a powerful effort at goal, but keeper Ross Flitney did well to parry it out.

Stefan Payne, on for injured Matt Lawrence, also came close before the half-time whistle but it was Dover who went off at the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion and looking the more likely team to be in the hat for Sunday's second round draw.

Gillingham started the second half at a good pace and Stefan Payne drew a good save from Dover keeper Ross Flitney. Moments later a header from Danny Spiller found the goalkeeper.

Flitney was on top form and he saved a long distance effort from Jack Payne on the hour and then turned Stefan Payne's follow-up out for a corner.

Dover still had their moments, despite being put under heavy pressure from the Gills, and Olly Schultz headed narrowly over from a corner.

The Gills were reduced to ten men when Nutter tripped Harry Baker as the Dover man was in the clear and heading for goal. It left Gills a man down and two goals down with 70 minutes on the clock.

That sending off took the sting out of Gillingham's attack and they were unable to avoid an FA Cup shocker.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Lawrence (S Payne 42mins), Sinclair, Nutter, Oli (Akinfenwa 21mins), Spiller, Southall, J Payne, Palmer (Inkango 76mins), McDonald. Subs not used: Maher, Cronin, Miller.

Dover: Flitney, Fish, Wynter, Tabiri, Schulz (Aisien 85mins), Gillman, Baker, I'Anson, Charles (Hunt 38mins), Birchall, Long (Wallis 84mins). Subs not used: Norville, Cutler, Hook, Bah.

Attendance: 7,475