FA YOUTH CUP: SHEFF WED 3-0 GILLINGHAM

Gills Academy side bow out of competition in round four

Gillingham's under-18s bowed out of this season's FA Youth Cup on Friday evening, as they lost 3-0 to a clinical Sheffield Wednesday at the famous Hillsborough Stadium.

Two goals in five first-half minutes put the Owls' Academy side in the driving seat, before the South Yorkshire team secured their victory in the opening minute of the second half.

Wednesday progress to play either Chelsea or Birmingham City's under-18s in round five.

In a tight opening half, right-back Finn O'Mara had the best chance of the early exchanges, shooting low at home goalkeeper Dan Wallis on 13 minutes.

However, the hosts took the lead on 25 minutes, as a Joe West cross into the box fell kindly to Lewis Price, who knocked it into the top corner.

Wednesday doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark, as they broke from a Gills corner. A free-flowing move involving Ciaran Brennan and George Hirst ended with Fraser Preston curling his shot past goalkeeper Will Sykes from just inside the box.

Strikers Noel Mbo and Leroy Hlabi threatened for Mark Patterson's side before the break; the former dragged a shot just wide from 15 yards, before Hlabi was prevented from getting on the end of O'Mara's dangerous cross thanks to good defending from Brennan.

Wednesday wrapped up the victory 45 seconds into the second half, as right-midfielder Preston volleyed home from 12 yards after Aaron Simpson's clearance fell kindly to him.

Bradley Stevenson's 25-yard effort on 59 minutes was well saved by Wallis, and substitute Henry Woods' drive was held by the Owls goalkeeper.

The Gills' bad luck was evident in the final five minutes; sub Sam Lawford poked a shot inches wide of the post while seated on the floor, and Mbo was bundled over inside the box with virtually the last kick of the game, but no penalty was given.

Wallis, Brennan (Hughes 81), Cook, Lee, West, Preston, Waldock (Williams 79), Kirby [C], Price (Hunt 65), Lonchar, HirstSheffield Wednesday:

Unused subs: Walker [GK], Swaine

Sykes, O'Mara, Huckle, Tucker (Divine 85), Simpson [C], Stevenson, Oldaker, Chapman, Conway (Woods 46), Mbo, Hlabi (Lawford 79)Gillingham:

Unused subs: Catherall [GK]. Gildea

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