Gillingham's potential starting line-up for next Saturday's big kick-off warmed up with a useful win against a makeshift Palace side at Selhurst Park
Alan Julian started between the posts while Adam Miller returned from injury on the right of a midfield three. At the back Josh Gowling partnered Garry Richards in defence in the absence of Simon King.
Mark Stimson's injury crisis deepened just four minutes after kick off when Kevin Maher came off worst from a 50/50 challenge with Alassane N'Diaye. The experienced midfielder returned to action after treatment to his right ankle but lasted only a matter of minutes before being replaced by Jack Payne.
As both teams toiled in the blistering sunshine it was 18 minutes before either keeper was called into action. The hosts were the first to register a shot with Nick Carle capitalising on a mix up between Gowling and Miller on the edge of the box, he played in Pinney down the right of goal and N'Diaye headed his far post cross into the hands of Alan Julian.
Three minutes later Gillingham had their first effort of the half, Garry Richards long punt upfield allowed Jackson to ghost in behind Ertl but his shot was high and wide of the mark.
As the half hour approached Carle found space in the visitors half to try his luck from distance, his shot was charged down and fell to Pinney on the right who blasted over.
At the other end Jack Payne and Curtis Weston linked up well in the 33rd minute to give Andy Barcham room to shoot but the pacey forward scooped his effort well over the bar.
Soon after Payne sent Miller racing away into the Palace half, he fed Jackson on the right of goal but his strike was blocked and looped behind for a corner.
The hosts finished the half strongly and produced the best move of the match so far in the 41st minute. Full back Hills raced clear down the left, his wicked cross found Alasanne N'Diaye but Julian reacted well to push his goalbound header over the crossbar.
HT 0-0
Palace started the second half in bright fashion with half time subs Scannell and Alan Lee combining as the former Ipswich striker forced a good save from Julian with an angled strike from the right of goal.
At the other end Miller came closest yet to opening the scoring. Weston stole the ball off the toes of N'Diaye and Miller struck the underside of the crossbar with a ferocious drive from 25 yards.
In the 53rd minute a long pass down the right flank found Sean Scannell on the right side of goal. He shook off his marker and fired goalwards but Julian was alive to the threat and pushed his soht behind for a corner.
Five minutes later Carle swept a fantastic cross field ball into the path of full back Lee Hills, Alan Lee touched off his cross and N'Diaye ballooned over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
In the 61st minute Gillingham took the lead, Curtis Weston and Andy Barcham linked up down the left flank, Barcham played a low ball across the face of goal and youngster Jack Payne was on hand to stab home from close range.
It was the visitors on the attack again in the 69th minute, Jack Payne found Jackson in the box who in turn shielded the ball for Barcham to try his luck but Flahavan was well placed to gather his rising drive.
Five minutes later the lively N'Diaye nearly found an equaliser for the home side. He turned to Gills defenders on the left hand touchline and cut back in before firing a rasping strike over the bar.
Twelve minutes from time Nick Carle sent a powerful free kick straight down Alan Julian's throat as Palace searched for an equaliser.
In the 88th minute Mark Bentley was desperatly unlucky not to add a second for the Gills. Mark McCammon played in Barcham who fed Bentley on the right of goal, he drew the keeper and placed his shot towards the far corner only to see it come back off the foot of the post.
Attendance: 1980 (235 Gillingham)
Gillingham: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, Garry Richards (80 Tom Wynter), Josh Gowling (82 Connor Essam), John Nutter, Adam Miller (77 Mark Bentley), Kevin Maher (13 Jack Payne), Curtis Weston (82 Rashid Yussuff), Chris Palmer (63 Luke Rooney), Simeon Jackson (82 Mark McCammon), Andy Barcham.
Subs not used: Luis Cumbers.
Crystal Palace: Darryl Flahavan (82 Charlie Mann), Stern John (69 Michael Abnett), Nick Carle (82 Hakeem Adelakun), Lee Hills (77 Matthew Parsons), Matt Lawrence, Danny Butterfield, (82 Jerry Nnamani) Johannes Ertl, Nathaniel Pinney (46 Alan Lee), Kieron Cadogan, James Comley (46 Sean Scannell), Alassane N'Diaye (89 Charlie Holness).
Subs not used: Simon Thomas, Matthew Wright.
