Gillingham defeated Stevenage 5-4 on penalties at the Lamex Stadium on Tuesday but were eliminated from the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
The game ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Dan Kemp cancelling out Josh Andrews' opener. However, for the extra point, penalties were played out with Marcus Wyllie netting the winner.
Mark Bonner made a few changes to the side that beat Port Vale at the weekend. Luca Ashby-Hammond started in goal, with his brother Taye starting for Stevenage. Joe Gbode and Jack Nolan provided attacking options in behind Josh Andrews.
Jonny Williams started in midfield alongside Ethan Coleman. Max Clark captained the side with first-year apprentice, Stan Sargent, among the substitutes.
It took 11 minutes for the first opportunity on goal to be registered, and it fell for the hosts when Nathan Thompson pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area. He shifted his body weight, making space for a shot and his left footed effort was palmed clear by Ashby-Hammond.
The keeper had to be alert soon afterwards to prevent a looping header finding the net and, as Stevenage looked to be in control, Gills took the lead.
In the final third of the pitch a home player went down and as a result space opened up for Andrews to find Clarke on the right side, the winger wasted no time in returning the favour and the striker drilled a brilliant effort into the back of the net from 18 yards.
Stevenage nearly drew level ten minutes later but Jake Young’s strike from distance went just wide of the target. That nearly proved costly as, at the other end, Max Clark’s cross was met by Ethan Coleman at the far post. However, his header was well saved by Taye Ashby-Hammond.
With the half-time whistle about to sound Stevenage nearly drew level when Aaron Pressley latched onto a ball on the left side of the box, he made space for a shot but Ashby-Hammond got down brilliantly to make the save.
H/T: Stevenage 0-1 Gillingham
Josh Andrews and Remeao Hutton were withdrawn at the interval and replaced by Marcus Wyllie and Max Ehmer respectively.
Gills had two great chances prior to the hour to get a second goal. The first opportunity fell to Jack Nolan who, on the edge of the box, got away a superb effort but missed the target by a matter of inches.
Joe Gbode went just as close soon after, his right footed effort just missing the right post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
Another chance came on 67 minutes when Nolan’s excellent corner-kick found Masterson at the front post, he got good contact on the header but glanced the effort just wide.
Moments later and Stevenage drew level. The hosts got bodies forward and pounced on a loose ball. Kemp worked his way from right to left on the edge of the box and found the back of the net with a precise finish.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of the game, although Stevenage did shout for a goal following a corner to the near post. Joe Gbode eventually cleared but the hosts felt it may have already crossed the line.
Both sides went for it in the closing stages but the tie had to be decided by penalties. Stevenage missed their first kick, with Gills scoring all of theirs to claim the extra point. However, this proved irrelevant, with the visitors exiting the competition.
F/T: Stevenage 1-1 Gillingham (Gillingham won 5-4 on penalties)
Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond, Thompson, Freeman, Smith, Freestone, List (Brown 85), White, Pressley (Simpson 57), King, Young (Aboh 58), Doherty (Kemp 57)
Unused subs: Bouzanis, Thornett, Henry
Gills: Ashby-Hammond, Hutton (Ehmer HT), Masterson, Ogie, Clark, Coleman, J Williams, Nolan, Gbode (Sargent 86), Andrews (Wyllie HT), Clarke
Unused subs: Turner, Dieng, E Williams, Wakeling
Attendance: 832 (147)
Referee: Mr Scott Simpson
