Gareth Ainsworth acknowledged that Gillingham were not good enough as they were beaten 4-1 by League One Cambridge United in the Jersey Mike's Trophy Group Stage on Tuesday night.
The visitors scored twice in either half, as they ran out eventual comfortable winners. Ainsworth admits that his side gifted Cambridge a couple of goals, and there will be work done in training to ensure those mistakes are not repeated.
Louie Dayal scored his first senior goal for the Football Club with a fantastic first-time strike that found the top corner. His goal momentarily brought Gillingham back on level terms, and Ainsworth was delighted for the academy graduate.
A handful of senior pros were involved in Tuesday's game, allowing them to acquire valuable game time. Ethan Coleman, Bradley Dack, Cameron Antwi, Garath McCleary and Will Goodwin all had minutes on the pitch, which pleased Ainsworth as he looks to build their match fitness.
Assessment of the game...
We have to say that we weren't good enough and that it was a bit of a lesson there. I thought that some of their players were dominant in areas. They took their goals well, but we have gifted a couple as well. We have definitely gifted a couple of goals. Hands up, we will have to look at that and make sure that it doesn't happen again.
We didn't test their back line enough, weren't ruthless enough, and we didn't hold the ball up well enough. We got overpowered at times, and we let a couple of poor goals in. That's something that we have to eradicate.
Louie Dayal's goal...
Louie Dayal's goal was probably the goal of the night. It was great for a young boy to do that.
It was fantastic. The top corner for him. He is going to be pleased with that. I think that he did well against Fulham last year. He set one up with a cross, and he was still an apprentice then. He's a first-year pro, and obviously it is a mark for him. He has played left wing-back, which is an unfamiliar position for Louie, so a good night for him.
Senior pros getting minutes in the tank...
Ethan Coleman made his first appearance for quite a few months, apart from the pre-season one where he broke down. Bradley Dack as well. The first one for him since Dover, so that is going way back as well. Cameron Antwi probably was his first proper game. He has come on as a sub a couple of times, but has not been ready in the first-team, and we have had to rein everything back for him. Will Goodwin, more minutes for him after his knock.
It was nice to see Cam coming back in there, and one or two nice touches for him. I still think he needs to get himself back to his best... He, Bradley, Garath McCleary, Will Goodwin and Ethan Coleman are all experienced pros that are getting minutes. It is nice to be able to top them up in these games.
Importance of the next two group stage fixtures...
We have got two games to go now in our group, and we have got to make sure that we win those to go through because I want to progress in this. It is not a competition that I want to take lightly.
