The Gills head into the draw for Round Two of the Johnstone's Paint trophy with a 4-3 penalty shoot out win over Colchester United...

Gillingham signalled their intent after just four first half minutes as Jacob Erskine, making his first start in a Gills shirt, held off Okounghae before feeding Luke Rooney on the right. The lively winger turned Matt Lockwood inside out before testing keeper Cousins with a low shot that was gathered at the near post.

In the eleventh minute Rooney caused problems for the U's defence again and was unlucky to miss out on what seemed a fair shout for a penalty. Josh Golwing's deep free kick was touched on to Rooney by Erskine and the diminutive forward went to ground between two Colchester centre halves but the referee was unimpressed with Gillingham's appeals.

Moments after arriving as a replacement for the injured Kem Izzet, Anthony Wordsworth brought a fine save from Alan Julian with a well struck free-kick that the Gills keeper did well to hold high to his left hand side.

In the 33rd minute good work down the left present Barcham with a sight of goal but his low drive deflected behind of a Colchester boot. From the resulting corner Chris Palmer found Adam Miller who grazed the crossbar with a glancing header at the near post.

Five minutes before the break Danny Jackman was unlucky with a deceptive free-kick that evaded everyone in the area before drifting inches wide of Cousins far post.

HT 0-0

The U's were the first to attack in the second half with David Perkins finding Scott Vernon but Alan Julian reacted well to stop his 52nd minute shot.

As the game opened out both sides found space to attack but struggled to carve out an opening to really test either keeper.

In the 66th minute Andy Barcham's short pass from the left found Mark McCammon at the near post, he turned and shot but his low effort was easily gathered by Cousins.

Five minutes later sub Simeon Jackson's shot on the turn from the left edge of the box drew another save from Cousins low at the near post.

On 76 minutes Gillingham were given a chance to advance when Andy Barcham was chopped down en route to goal, Simeon Jackson took the spot kick and fired the home side in front.

Moments later David Fox broke through the Gills back four but dragged his low effort well wide. Within minutes Matt Lockwood crossed for Scott Vernon but Alan Julian showed good reflexes to parry his header to safety.

Five minutes from time Colchester got the equaliser they had been threatening as Julian saved a Vernon header but was powerless to prevent Clive Platt nodding home from point blank range.

In the 87th minute Matt Heath had a chance to secure the win rising above the home defence to head back across goal but agonisingly wide of Julian's left hand post.

Moments later at the other end Miller sent Curtis through on goal but after breaking into the box the former Leeds midfielder sliced wide with the goal at his mercy.

With the tie ending all square the match moved into a penalty shoot out.

Vernon slotted into the top right corner to put the U's one up before Jackson made it 1-1 with a cheeky dink over Cousins.

Wordsworth hit his second low down the middle to restore the visitors lead and Adam Miller hit the cross bar to keep it 2-1

David Fox's low strike was saved by Alan Julian and Chris Palmer slotted into the right corner to make it 2-2.

Matt Lockwood hammered into Julians top right for 3-2 and Curtis Weston made no mistake for 3-3.

David Perkins skied miles over the bar to set up Mark McCammon who rifled into the roof of the net for a 4-3 penalty shoot out victory. 

Attendance: 1725 (124 visitors)

Gillingham: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, Garry Richards, Josh Gowling, Chris Palmer, Luke Rooney (67 Curtis Weston), Adam Miller, Danny Jackman (67 Kevin Maher), Andy Barcham, Mark McCammon, Jacob Erskine (67 Simeon Jackson).

Subs not used: Simon Royce, Mark Bentley.

Colchester United: Mark Cousins, Magnus Okuonghae, Ashley Vincent (77 Joel Thomas), Clive Platt, Simon Hackney (46 David Perkins), David Fox, Kemal Izzet (21 Anthony Wordsworth), John White, Matt Heath, Scott Vernon, Matt Lockwood.

Subs not used: Ben Williams, Alan Maybury.