A young striker named Neil Harris picked the ball up on the left, cut inside and bent it into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area to level the scores.
It was Harris's first goal in professional football (co-incidentally Tim Cahill scored his first league goal for the Lions in the same match) and a moment to savour for a striker who had learnt his trade playing for Cambridge City in non-league football.
More than 10 years later and the 31-year-old has amassed 111 goals in his two spells at Millwall to stand on the verge of becoming the all-time leading scorer at the London club.
And in some ways nothing has changed.
"That first goal was very special," Harris told me. "Scoring is the greatest feeling and you always want more. I still have the same hunger for goals."
It has not been an easy ride for the likeable and thoughtful forward - and many times it seemed as though he would never get near the total he now shares with another Lions legend, Teddy Sheringham.
It started sensationally. Harris scored 25 league goals in the 1999-2000 season and won the golden boot as League One's top goalscorer with 28 in 2000-01 as the Lions won the title.
But in the same year he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and although he won that particular battle, showing dignity and courage throughout, in 2004 he fell out of favour at the New Den under Dennis Wise.
Difficult spells at Cardiff, Nottingham Forest and Gillingham followed before a return to Millwall in January 2007.
Then, in the final months of last season, boss Kenny Jackett told Harris that he no longer figured in his plans and the striker could leave in the summer.
Harris's reaction to the news that he was once again to be bombed out at the club he loves tells you all you need to know about the man.
"The history of my life and career has always been a battle," he said. "I thought 'I'm not going down sulking, I'm not going to throw the towel in'."
He trained harder than ever, kept knocking on the door, eventually got his chance and scored a crucial goal in the win over Carlisle on 26 April. Shortly afterwards he was offered a new deal.
"To be offered a new contract was extremely satisfying," said Harris. "How did I change the manager's mind? By being professional and working hard."
Hard work, professionalism and earning what you have - Harris returns to these themes time and again in conversation.
And there is no doubt that Harris as a footballer was moulded in the non-leagues.
Up at 6am, train into London for his job at a Japanese insurance company, train back home, straight into the car and up to Cambridge for training or a mid-week fixture and not home until after midnight - this was Harris's life for several years.
Millwall signed Harris in March 1998 and the striker recalls clearly how much he enjoyed his first week in training. The surroundings, the environment, being a part of Millwall - it all felt so natural. When he explained this to the chief scout who had brought him to the club, he replied: "Why do you think I signed you?" But at the same time the striker also experienced something of a rude awakening. The expectations, the pressure to win, or, even more, not to lose - it was new to him and he wanted to be a part of it all.
"I have never taken for granted being a professional footballer and I think that is part of the reason why I still am one 11 years later," said the Brentwood-born player.
I have interviewed a fair few footballers and if I was to draw one conclusion it is that those who turned professional after having a 'regular' job that 'normal people' do have a greater appreciation of what they have.
Harris, as the following quote shows, is no different.
"Performances should get you trophies and money but a lot who come through have so much so young - not just the money but what is done for them or, perhaps, what they don't have to do. It is very, very easy. I believe that a lot of things given today are not earned."
He believes in doing the absolute best that he can every time he plays and reckons "always giving 110%" is part of the reason why he enjoys such a good relationship with the club's supporters.
But the fans at the New Den can be demanding and have recently voiced their frustration as their team have failed to win their last three home games, all finishing in draws.
Harris thinks this can have a positive effect. It demands a strong personality and a winning mentality, factors that he feels can help to mould a successful player. One step down the line and it is successful players that make successful teams.
Millwall are enjoying a good season - they are currently third in the League One table - and Harris is hoping for a repeat of the promotion he enjoyed in 2001.
What proved crucial in 2001 - apart from Harris's goals - was the togetherness in the squad, the willingness to stick together, to tough it out. "We have a terrific squad now but what will get us to the next stage is hard work and self belief."
The dream scenario would be the goalscoring record followed by promotion, though at the moment Harris is focused on making sure he remains in the manager's plans on week-to-week basis. If that happens then the record will inevitably be his at some stage.
Harris never played alongside Sheringham but they lined up against each other once when Millwall played West Ham. The two players swapped shirts at the end of the game. Harris talks in reverential terms about the man with whom he currently shares the record, describes him as an icon and says that to be mentioned in the same breath as the former England international is a great honour.
Nonetheless, Harris undoubtedly wants the record for himself and no-one can deny that the striker has earned the right to become the club's record scorer. His career has not been about shortcuts and easy options. I get the impression that this matters to him.
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