Cameron Antwi came off the bench to score his first Gillingham goal as they beat Northampton Town 2-1 at Sixfields Stadium to progress to the next stage of the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday night.
Lamin Sillah put the Gills in front after 12 minutes. He did well to advance the ball up the pitch before playing it to Garath McCleary, who flicked it into the path of Ronan Hale. He saw his shot well saved by Ross Fitzsimons, but the rebound sat perfectly for Sillah, who fired it into the back of the net.
Elliott List equalised for the hosts less than two minutes after half-time. Connor Evans’ low cross made its way towards the back post, where an unmarked List came sliding in to convert from close range.
In the 54th minute, Antwi provided the winning moment. Sillah intercepted a wayward pass as Northampton tried playing out from the back. He got his head up and found Antwi, who got the ball out of his feet before stroking his shot into the bottom corner, leaving Fitzsimons rooted to his spot.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Barrow in the FA Cup, as Andy Smith and Garath McCleary came back into the side. Zane Albarus also started the game, making his first appearance since the defeat at York.
Will Goodwin and Cameron Antwi returned to the matchday squad, as they were named as substitutes. Academy graduates Logan Dobbs and Harry Waldock were not involved.
Connor Evans rifled his shot into the side netting in the fifth minute. He played a one-two with Kamarai Swyer, which put Evans through on the right side of the box. He struck his shot with plenty of power towards the near top corner, but it went the wrong side of the post, nestling into the side netting.
In the ninth minute, Ronan Hale forced Ross Fitzsimons into action. Robbie McKenzie’s long throw was headed into the forward’s path, and he struck the ball on the half-volley. Hale saw his initial attempt blocked, but the ball rebounded back to him, and he sent a left-footed attempt goalward. Fitzsimons got down to push it away before the hosts eventually dealt with the danger.
Sillah gave Gillingham the lead after 12 minutes. The Nottingham Forest loanee did brilliantly to turn his marker inside the Gills half before driving forward into the space in front of him. Sillah played the ball to McCleary to his left before McCleary then used a smart flick to pass it on to Hale, who was in space. The Northern Ireland international angled a first-time attempt towards the bottom right corner, which Fitzsimons got down to push clear. However, the rebound fell perfectly for Sillah to fire into the far left corner of the net.
Nick Freeman saw his volleyed attempt blocked after Brophy's corner was headed as far as the right wing-back who was on the edge of the penalty area. He did well to keep it down, drilling it goalward, but a Northampton man was on hand to deflect it behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Gills were forced into a first change after 21 minutes, as Smith could not continue and was replaced by Antwi. That led to McKenzie dropping into the right central defender role, with Antwi going into the centre of midfield with Albarus.
In the 34th minute, McCleary went on an excellent run forward resulting in a shot at goal. Albarus did well to get the ball to the feet of Sillah, whose smart flick found McCleary. The forward went on a bursting run, taking the ball beyond multiple Northampton defenders as he made his way towards the penalty area. He got some space away from the last defender before sending a left-footed attempt goalward. However, it was straight at Fitzsimons, who caught the shot.
Logan Briggs forced a save out of Ollie Wright moments later. He played a one-two inside the penalty area, which allowed him to get into the pocket of space that was available. He tried bending his shot towards the goal, but it was too central, as Wright did enough to push it behind for a corner, which the visitors dealt with.
Gillingham were forced into a second change on the stroke of half-time, as McKenzie went down and could not continue. He was replaced by Ethan Coleman.
HALF-TIME: Northampton Town 0-1 Gillingham
Gills made a change at the break, with Sheldon Kendall replacing Hale.
Former Gill, Elliott List, equalised for the hosts 90 seconds after the restart. Connor Evans’ low centre from the right was in the direction of Briggs at the near post, who missed the ball. That allowed List, who was unmarked at the back post, to slide it home from close range.
In the 54th minute, Gillingham restored their lead as Antwi scored his first goal for the Football Club. The hosts were trying to play out from the back, but a wayward pass back into the penalty area was cut out by Sillah. The Nottingham Forest loanee showed good awareness to get his head up and find the oncoming Antwi. The midfielder took a touch to get it out of his feet before slotting the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Fitzsimons with no chance.
Soon after, Kendall struck the woodwork. He received the ball on the right side of the box and shifted the ball onto his right foot to give himself some space before shooting. His attempt towards the near post smacked off the outside of the post before going behind for a goal-kick.
Gillingham made their final two changes on the hour, as Armani Little and Louie Dayal replaced Albarus and Sillah respectively.
Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh tried his luck from distance. He was afforded the time and space before shooting from 25 yards out in a central position. His attempt was close to Wright, but dipping at the final moments, forcing the goalkeeper to push the ball away from the danger before Gillingham cleared their lines.
The hosts nearly found an equaliser in the final seconds. The ball was played to Max Dyche, who sent a low shot towards the bottom right corner, but Wright did well to get across and save with his feet before the Gills cleared their lines.
FULL-TIME: Northampton Town 1-2 Gillingham
Northampton Town: Fitzsimons, Maxwell, O’Brien-Whitmarsh, List, Swyer (Warhurst 70’), McCarthy, Wormleighton, Briggs, C. Evans, Saunders (Dale 70’), Dyche
Unused Substitutes: Dadge, Moore, L. Evans, Powell
Gillingham: Wright, Freeman, Smith (Antwi 21’), Beckles, Daley, Brophy, Albarus (Little 60’), McKenzie (Coleman 43’), McCleary, Hale (Kendall 46’), Sillah (Dayal 60’)
Unused Substitutes: Luthra, Goodwin
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 667 (70 Gillingham supporters)
