A brave nine man Gillingham side were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday evening following a 2-1 defeat to Swindon at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Botan Ameen had given the visitors the advantage but Joe Orpwood drew things level when his lob over Lucas Myers found the bottom corner.
However, Orpwood was shown a second yellow card just before the interval and Swindon capitalized by taking the lead shortly into the second period.
Gills stayed in the game but were then reduced to nine men when Jonah Walker was shown a straight red card when his arm was deemed to be too high when trying to hold off his marker.
Joe Dunne was taking charge of his first game as youth boss at ME7 and named Stan Sargent in attack, who made his first-debut earlier in the month against Stevenage.
Harry Webster had served his time on the sidelines following concussion, and Orpwood returned following international duty with Northern Ireland U21.
The first clear cut opportunity fell to the hosts on ten minutes when Jimmy Heasman did well on the left wing to intercept a pass, he found Cruz Beszant inside the box and his ball across goal found Harry Waldock whose shot was well saved by Lucas Myers.
That missed opportunity proved costly as almost immediately Swindon took the lead when Botan Ameen picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, drove towards the edge of the box and drilled an effort beyond the reach of Carter Sullivan.
It was nearly two-nil on 23 minutes but Harry Chard’s free-kick went inches wide of the right hand post. From the next attack, Gills got the equalizer when a long ball over the top was misjudged by the Swindon defence.
The keeper came off his line but had to stop as the ball fell for Orpwood and he reacted well, gently lifting it over Myers and into the corner.
Efforts from Ameen and Owen Foye failed to trouble Sullivan into a meaningful save before Gills were reduced to ten men when Orpwood was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge inside the Swindon half.
Liam Hutt’s left footed shot in added time was well gathered by the Gills number one before Sullivan palmed away a shot from George Alston.
H/T: Gillingham 1-1 Swindon
Swindon took the lead nine minutes into the second half. A cross from the right was deflected and Sullivan was unable to react in time to stop the ball crossing the line.
Harry Chard went close shortly afterwards but his powerful strike only hit the side netting.
Gills created a good opening just before the hour when Sargent pounced on a loose ball just outside the penalty area on the right side, he spotted the run of Beszant and pulled a pass back for the forward but his shot went just over from 15 yards.
The hosts were reduced to nine men when Jonah Walker was dismissed. His arm was perceived to be too high while trying to thwart his marker’s progress and the referee was quick to show the red card for a second time.
Swindon had the advantage in terms of men on the pitch but Gills dug in and Sullivan did brilliantly to deny Liam Hutt when the full-back looked destined to kill the tie off.
Gillingham sent men forward in the closing stages and came close to forcing extra-time when Harry Waldock’s shot inside the box was brilliantly saved by Myers before Sargent’s header at the far post was headed just wide.
F/T: Gillingham 1-2 Swindon
Gills: Sullivan, Orpwood, Kot (Luxton 85), Dobbs, Webster, Walker, White (Asaba 71), Waldock, Beszant (Dayal 65), Heasman (Clark 65), Sargent.
Unused subs: Hegarty, Cross, Carruthers
Swindon: Myers, Hutt, McCormick, Stewart, Chard, Foye, Alston (Britchford-Stanley 90), Ameen, Terry (Larkins 74), Obodo (Owiti 85), Gonzalez (Grey 90+5)
Unused subs: Robinson, Churchley, Head
Attendance: 404 (37)
Referee: Mr Gerry Heron
