Gillingham exit the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the Second Round stage with a 0-1 home defeat to Colchester United

Mark Stimson named a strong starting line up for for the Gills second cup tie of the season with Colchester. Nicky Southall returned from his loan spell at Dover to start on the right of midfield while Mark Bentley switched to the centre in place of Andrew Crofts who is on international duty. The only other change saw Leigh Mills partner Simon King in defence as a straight replacement for Garry Richards.

Gillingham started the better of the two teams with the games first chance falling to Andy Barcham on five minutes, Curtis Weston picked him out on the left of the area but Barcham's angled drive curled agonisingly over the far corner.

On 18 minutes Albert Jarrett earned warm applause with a well struck free-kick from 25 yards which saw Mark Cousins in the Colchester goal diving high to his right to turn it round the post.

Colchester had their first sight of goal on 26 minutes, Simon Royce blocked Mark Yeates initial effort before Dean Hammond headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

On the half hour Albert Jarrett had Cousins scrambling to hold his powerful volley after great work down the right by Barcham. Simeon Jackson forced a corner which fell to Simon King but the defender headed narrowly wide of the mark.

 Five minutes from the break Nicky Southall shaved the bar with a sweetly struck shot from 35 yards to round off an entertaining half for the Gills

After the restart Colchester looked more lively with Johnnie Jackson going close from a curling shot from the right of the area on 51 minutes

Soon after, the visitors were awarded a free-kick just outside the area after Simon King brought down Mark Yeates, the midfielder stepped up but sent his effort high into the Brian Moore Stand.

At the other end John Nutter whipped a dangerous cross into the Colchester area but Southall was unable to get anything on the ball.

On the hour Colchester took the lead from another Yeates free-kick after Nicky Southall's foul on the right hand touchline. Yeates made no mistake this time finding the left corner of the net with a well placed strike.

Five minutes later and Yeates had another opening, capitalising on Leigh Mills slip to fire over from the edge of the area.

With time running out Mark Stimson replaced his strike force, handing a first team debut to 16 year old Youth Team Forward Tom Murphy alongside Andy Pugh.

Pugh nearly found an opening moments after coming on as he chased a long pass over the top from Jarrett but the ball fell kindly for Cousins in the Colchester goal.

Two minutes from time Nicky Southall sent a deep cross to the far post, John Nutter fired goalwards but Cousins pushed it over for a corner consigning the Gills to an early cup exit.

Attendance: 1557

Gillingham: Simon Royce, Barry Fuller (c), Simon King, Leigh Mills, John Nutter, Nicky Southall, Curtis Weston, Mark Bentlebally, Albert Jarrett (81 Garry Richards), Simeon Jackson (74 Andrew Pugh), Andy Barcham (74 Tom Murphy)

Subs: Stuart Lewis, Chris Kiely

Colchester: Mark Cousins, John White, Paul Reid, Matt Heath, Gary Borrowdale, Mark Yeates, Dean Hammond, David Perkins, Johnnie Jackson, Clive Platt, Steven Gillespie (89 Scott Vernon)

Subs: Dean Gerkan, Kemal Izzet, Pat Baldwin, Anthony Wordsworth