Gillingham were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday evening following a 2-0 defeat to Stevenage at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Lenny Brown and Samuel Ayolie both scored in the first-half for the visitors and, although Gills commanded possession following the interval, they were unable to breakdown a strong and resilient defensive line.
Stan Sargent and Zak Whitelock both missed the game so Louie Dayal led the line for the hosts with Sulli Booth and Kelly Adams providing support from wide areas.
Cruz Beszant, the Captain, sat in the ten role with Michael Luxton and Alfie Cross protecting the back four.
Freddie Carruthers and Joe Orpwood provided options from the bench for Joe Dunne’s side.
Gills made the first chance of the game on eight minutes when Dayal chased down a long ball and did well to find Booth to his right. The forward sold the defender a dummy, cut inside and his effort struck the bar.
That missed opportunity proved costly as Stevenage took the lead less than a minute later. A free-kick from Beszant was cleared as far as Grant, he was beaten to a loose ball and a cross-field pass into the Gills final third set Lenny Brown on his way.
Hegarty back tracked but couldn’t prevent an incoming lob from finding the back of the net.
The Gills keeper was called upon less than ten minutes later. Samuel Ayolie drove into space and decided against options to his left and right, electing to shoot instead. Hegarty got down and made a strong save.
Michael Luxton and Louie Dayal both had half chances for Gills but failed to hit the target, as did Frank Norris at the other end when he connected with Lenny Brown’s cross from the right wing.
Gills were beginning to enjoy more of the possession but Stevenage added a second against the run of play on 40 minutes when a ball from the right was kept alive by the visiting forwards, and Ayolie had drifted into space. From 18 yards out he fired home a powerful effort which Hegarty couldn’t get across to.
H/T: Gillingham 0-2 Stevenage
Gills came out of the blocks well and continued to probe the Stevenage back line, however the hosts remained solid and limited Joe Dunne’s men to few goalscoring opportunities.
Stevenage appeared comfortable in forfeiting possession but exploiting gaps when they appeared. The hosts had a number of set plays but were unable to breakdown a very stubborn defensive unit.
Gillingham threw men forward in the closing stages but the visitors saw the game out to progress.
F/T: Gillingham 0-2 Stevenage
Gills: Hegarty, Grant, Kot, James (Jones 87), Erskine (Carruthers 77), Luxton, Cross (Orpwood 62), Beszant, Booth (Surrey 86), Adams, Dayal.
Unused subs: Spencer, Stone, Kingston
Stevenage: Woodford, Okwara (Johnson 88), Thornett, Impey, Saji, England, Mustafa (Sadiku 82), Wright (Benton 78), Ayolie (Robinson 90+1), Norris (C Brown 32), L Brown
Unused subs: Barnes, Olowojoba
Attendance: 303
Referee: Mr Peter Conn
