Marcus Wyllie scored his first goal in a Gillingham shirt, but it proved to be a consolation in the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace Under 21s in the Bristol Street Trophy Group Stage fixture at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday night.
Mark Bonner made nine changes to the side that beat Notts County at the weekend. The two players to retain their place in the starting XI were Remeao Hutton and Armani Little. Harry Webster made his first appearance since signing his first professional contract.
Jonny Williams started for the first time since his concussion at Doncaster, while Euan Williams made his first appearance since being sent off at Swansea in the EFL Cup.
Justin Devenny had the first chance for the visitors in the seventh minute. Palace won a free-kick in a central position from around 25 yards out. Devenny took the set piece, getting it up and over the wall, but it was too close to Luca Ashby-Hammond, who got down to make the save.
It took a crucial interception from Rob Holding to deny Marcus Wyllie from giving Gillingham the lead. Jacob Wakeling played a low ball towards the six-yard box for Wyllie to latch onto. It looked as if it was going to reach the forward, who just had to slot the ball into the back of the net. However, Holding came across, making a crucial interception at the final second.
Jemiah Umolu should have scored seconds later. Caleb Kpora went on a dazzling run, starting inside his own half. He took the ball beyond multiple Gillingham players, evading a sliding challenge from Oli Hawkins before looking set to go through on goal. Little put in a brilliant last-ditch challenge, but the loose ball fell to Umolu.
He tried bending his left-footed shot towards the far corner but sent it wide of the post.
Wakeling was denied by a crucial last-ditch goal-line clearance on 16 minutes. A Hawkins headed clearance found Little, who had acres of space to roam forward into. He brought it towards the Palace penalty area before playing it to Wakeling on the left.
The wide man set himself before shooting, aiming a low-driven effort towards the far bottom corner. It beat Louie Moulden in the Palace goal, but a defender recovered in time to get across and cleared the ball over the top of the crossbar before it hit the back of the net.
Umolu made no mistake in the 25th minute, heading the visitors in front. Sean Grehan crossed from the right, which found the head of Umolu, who headed beyond Ashby-Hammond.
The Gills stopper had to be alert to prevent Umolu from scoring his second moments later. The forward was played through on goal, shooting with his right foot. However, Ashby-Hammond quickly came off his line, closing the angle before making the big save.
In the 35th minute, Webster was in the right place at the right time to deny Umolu. A cross from the left towards the back post reached the forward, heading the ball down on its way to the goal. Webster, who was playing at left-back, recovered just in time to take the ball away from the goal before carrying it forward.
Franco Umeh made it two on 39 minutes. A corner from the left found Grehan, who mishit his attempted effort into the path of Umeh, who managed to prod the ball goalward, finding the bottom corner.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-2 Crystal Palace Under 21s
Gills made three changes at the break, with Shad Ogie, Harry Waldock and Joe Gbode coming on for Hutton, Little and Jack Nolan respectively.
Hindolo Mustapha added a third for the visitors when he won possession just outside the Gillingham penalty area. He struck his shot with plenty of power from 20 yards out, leaving Ashby-Hammond with no chance.
Devenny came close to adding a fourth on 63 minutes. He drilled a first-time effort from the edge of the box towards the top right corner. Fortunately, his shot fizzed over the crossbar.
In the 76th minute, Wyllie did well to get a shot away. Webster’s low ball from the right found the striker, who controlled the ball with his back to the goal. He did well to turn and shoot on the volley but could not hit the target, sending his effort wide of the near post.
Wyllie pulled a goal back for Gillingham in the 81st minute. Gbode curled a cross from the left into the penalty area, with Wyllie rising the highest to guide his header into the left corner of the net, leaving Moulden rooted to his spot.
Palace went straight down the other end and won a penalty when Hawkins brought down Asher Agbinone. The same player took the spot kick, but the effort was saved by Ashby-Hammond, who went the right way. He got down to his bottom left to smother the low-driven attempt.
Zach Marsh had a great opportunity to add a fourth in the final seconds. He was played through one-on-one with Ashby-Hammond, who was quick to come off his line. Marsh attempted to round the Gillingham goalkeeper, who stuck a leg out, denying the forward. Marsh then tried to squeeze a shot beyond the keeper, but he was alert to make the stop.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-3 Crystal Palace Under 21s
Gillingham: Ashby-Hammond, Hutton (Ogie 46’), Hawkins, Giles, Webster, Little (Waldock 46’), E. Williams (Skipper 83’), J. Williams (Clarke 71’), Nolan (Gbode 46’), Wakeling, Wyllie
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Clark
Crystal Palace Under 21s: Moulden, Holding, Grehan, Rodney, Umeh, Devenny, Kporha, Mustapha (Gibbard 83’), Agbinone (Browne 90+1’), Jemide, Umolu (Marsh 71’)
Unused Substitutes: Izquierdo, Nascimento, Grante, Austin
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
Attendance: 1223 (127 away fans)
