The romance of the cup

This evening I had a once in a lifetime experience when I watched Newcastle United play Gillingham at the latter's Priestfield Stadium.  The last time the Premier League outfit took on the Kent side was also in Gillingham back in 1976 and that was before I was born, so this was quite unique.  I went with my friend Chris Foxwright for whom this was also a new sensation - he had never been to a live football match before.
The Capital One Cup, AKA the League Cup, was the reason why these two teams, two tiers apart, had been drawn together.  It was a classic wet and windy Tuesday night at an unglamourous and faraway location to test the mettle of United's new imports.  The Priestfield isn't too bad as a ground, even if the away section is uncovered and those fans who had the long trek from the North-east (one of the longest distances between clubs and on a weekday as well) must have got distinctly soggy.  Gillingham players were far from overawed of their exalted guests, with extra motivation gained from competing against a famous club, tussling with quality players (some of whom had finished 3rd at the 2014 World Cup), playing in front of national camera and journalists and also putting themselves in the proverbial shop window before the transfer window shuts next Monday (maybe not so much to be purchased by Newcastle as by clubs from the tier above).
The Gillingham crowd were quite raucous, especially the ultras in the centre of the Rainham End who vociferously backed both the Blues and mocked the quality of support mustered by Black-and-Whites.  Surprisingly the away section was quite mute (and didn't fully fill up until the start of the second half, some Geordies obviously misjudging the journey time) and the Rainham End must have been among the few to be able to shout at the visiting Magpies, "Your support is, your support is, your support is f***ing s**t, your support is f***ing s**t!"  That roused a 'Toon, Toon, Army, Army', but they continued to be drowned out by the fanatical Rainham End.
The football it has to be said wasn't the best - it wasn't until the 23rd minute that either goalkeeper had to make a save but in the 25th minute, Newcastle took the lead.  This wasn't through the poaching endeavours of one of their players but a Gills player, who until the summer had plied his trade at Sunderland, making the own goal by John Egan all the sweeter.  It was a little odd as the Newcastle players didn't celebrate at first and there was no great hue and cry from the Gills players, yet there was the ball, nestling in the back of the net.  The irony that Newcastle's first competitive goal of the season came from an ex-employee of their greatest regional rivals would not be lost on many.  Newcastle had though got the measure of Gillingham by this point though they failed to capitalise on it, with much pretty build-up work undermined by a toothless attack.  The Gills may have been up for it but if you're a striker and you can't score against a League One side, you should have a good look in the mirror.  In the second half, Massadio Haidara had a long-range effort that rattled the bar (though probably covered by the Gills goalkeeper had it dipped below) and Tim Krul had to be alive to palm away Luke Norris' drive.  Gillingham were resilient and, with only one goal in it, never gave up the fight; a draw would have probably been a fair result, though of course, the nature of this tie meant it had to be finished one or another on the night - penalties would have been very interesting.  Overall it was the fantastic atmosphere that made this game special and gave the night its romance.