By Chris O'Brien
May 1 2005

A late headed equaliser from Welshman Paul Parry earned Cardiff City an away point at Gillingham. The Bluebirds secured their Football League Championship status thanks to Crewe Alexandra's defeat at Ipswich, and now a summer of uncertainty and likely cutbacks will begin ahead of next season.

Cardiff City will be playing Football League Championship football next season. What was not quite a forgone conclusion last weekend has become certainty after a 1-1 draw away at Gillingham mathematically secured City's safety and another season of football in England's second flight.

A late equaliser from Paul Parry gave the Bluebirds a point having fallen behind through a Martin Jarvis strike on 72 minutes. Crewe Alexandra's whopping 5-1 reverse at promotion chasing Ipswich Town means the final game of the season, QPR's visit to Ninian Park, is nothing more than a pride fixture. City are 4 points above the drop zone, and could still finish as high as 15th.

1,454 travelling supporters made plenty of noise as a tremendous atmosphere roared around the Priestfield Stadium as a sell-out crowd looked on. Defeat for the Bluebirds could potentially have thrown them back into trouble, and with Gillingham also in the thick of the relegation mix-up, this was a game that included little in the way of flair with both teams terrified of losing.

Both teams took a defensive attitude throughout the first-half, with few men committing to go forward and create opportunities. A game that promised so much was disappointing throughout the first 45 minutes, with the best chance a near own goal that could have given the hosts the lead as early as the 9th minute. James McEveley nearly headed into his own net as the home fans had their hearts in their mouths. Mamady Sidibe missed a sitter at the other end, as the away fans joyously sang "You Jack Bastard", but other than that there was little to shout about.

The second-half continued to be a tense affair, but with results in Cardiff's favour, perhaps the visitors were guilty of taking their foot of the pedals as Gillingham started to stamp an air of authority on the Championship clash. The deadlock was finally broken eighteen minutes from time as the game exploded into action.

Substitute Jarvis charged onto a through ball and fired a shot against the on-form Neil Alexander. The Scotsman got a touch, and Chris Barker tried to clear the bobbling ball off the line, but pressurised from Gillingham's Nicky Southall, both men and ball ended up into the back of the net and the Gills had the lead in quite bizarre circumstances. The promising teenager looked to have given Gillingham certain survival, yet Paul Parry spoilt the Kent celebrations with only moments to go.

Neal Ardley, ever impressive since his move to South Wales, sent in a corner which found the head of Parry and then found the back of Gillingham's net. Both sides then hunted for a late winner, but their was no further drama and both teams pulled further away from the drop zone. Cardiff now mathematically safe, yet Gillingham are one of three clubs who could join Nottingham Forest, relegated today, and Rotherham United in Football League One next season.

In a season marred by mammoth financial problems, the sale of a star striker and the shock departure of the club's captain, and many more disappointments, securing safety was a relief and a joyous occasions for all associated with Cardiff City AFC. Well done The City!

Full Time - Gillingham 1-1 Cardiff City
Attendance - 10,810

Gillingham FC: Brown, Nosworthy, Ashby, Cox, McEveley (Hope 90), Southall, Smith, Douglas, Flynn (Jarvis 61), Henderson (Byfield 67), Sidibe.

Cardiff City: Alexander, Williams (Bullock 77), Gabbidon, Collins, Barker, Ardley, Langley, Boland, McAnuff (Parry 66), Thorne, Jerome (Lee 71).