Goals from Tobechwukwu Ugorji, Jack Quirk, William Burrell and Salif Biol clinched a 4-0 victory for Birmingham City against the Gills in the U21 Premier League Cup at MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The visitors took the lead through Ugorji but added to their lead though Quirk and Burrell in the second-half. Biol, on as a sub, added a fourth in stoppage time.
Pete Gill and Scott Wagstaff were at the helm and named Cameron Antwi as Captain. Taite Holtam lined up in goal with Zack Whitelock in attack and Jack Daley named at centre-half.
Gills started well and nearly took the lead on eight minutes. A nice ball over the top was read well by Whitelock and he chased it down and controlled well.
He cut onto his left foot, made space for a shot but his effort towards the left corner was well kept out by Tyrese Warmington.
The keeper was back to his feet moments later and made a more comfortable stop to deny Antwi.
The hosts dominated possession in the first 20 minutes but were unable find a way through. Birmingham eventually got a foothold on proceedings and made a half chance on 24 minutes when a floated cross from Riquelme Thompson-Jones was headed over by Dyneao Martin-Moore.
They went closer shortly afterwards when Holtam did well to deny a powerful effort from Carvalho Santos.
Another Santos effort, this time from a tricky angle, went inches wide of the post with Taite at full stretch a few moments later.
A powerful effort from Sheldon Kendall forced a fine stop from Warmington before Birmingham took the lead. A ball towards the edge of the Gills box was nicked off Holtam as he went to gather and Ugorji was just able to keep the ball in play before tucking home from close range.
H/T: Gillingham 0-1 Birmingham City
Holtam made an excellent stop in the early stages of the second period to deny Santos. The wide man stayed onside on the right and drove towards goal. With only Taite to beat, he tried to lift it over the keeper but Holtam stood tall and made an excellent block with Luxton completing the clearance.
Moments later and Booth struck the post. Beszant played a drilled ball into the box which was well controlled by the forward. His strike towards goal was clean, but he struck the upright.
The visitors went down the other end and scored within a couple of minutes. Quirk had the ball 25 yards from goal and sent a precise effort across Holtam which found the bottom corner.
They added a third just beyond the hour mark when Menzi Mazwi’s corner to the back post was headed in by Burrell.
A fourth was added in stoppage time when sub Salif Biol saw a long range effort take a huge deflection and beyond Holtam.
F/T: Gillingham 0-4 Birmingham City
Gills: Holtam, Webster, Luxton, Daley (Adams 62), Theodore, Dayal, Beszant, Antwi, Kendall (Mhlanga 62), Booth (Surrey 89), Whitelock
Unused subs: Spencer, James, Jones, Silva
Birmingham: Warmington, Thompson-Jones, Quirk, Burrell, Campbell (Biol 83), Maddox (Elmansuri), Caravalho-Santos, Martin-Moore (Chahal 78), Ugorji (Reilly 78), Mazwi, McGreevy
Unused subs: Birmingham
Referee: Mr Isaac Seale
Attendance: 389
