Gillingham booked their place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Slough Town at Arbour Park on Friday night.
Thomas Silva and Luca Procopi were on target for the visitors and, although Slough pulled one back, they were unable to find a way through for a second time with Benji Spencer making an incredible save late in the second-half.
Scott Wagstaff named Teddy James as Captain with Martins Lawal and Raif Jones for company at centre-back.
Jack Kingston lined up in midfield with Sulli Booth and Arthur Mhlanga supporting Alex Zinici up top.
Gillingham started well and applied early pressure, Mhlanga was the first to go for goal but on ten minutes he failed to make clear connection at the far post and the chance went begging.
However, the visitors did make their early territory count on 18 minutes when Silva came forward and did well to intercept a pass 25 yards from goal. His left footed shot beat De Biazze and came off the inside of the post before crossing the line.
Slough nearly drew level a few minutes later but Alex Szymczyk’s effort across Spencer inside the box missed the target.
Mhlanga’s second chance of the night went closer than his first when he set himself following a defensive clearance but on the volley he struck just wide of the right post.
Booth was next to go close, this time courtesy of a set play with Silva’s corner going deep to the far stick. Sulli won his header, but the Slough keeper was well placed to make the stop.
Gills finally grabbed a deserved second just before the interval when Procopi had the ball on the edge of the box, he took a touch and powered an effort into the roof of the net.
James nearly added a third but his effort was well blocked.
H/T: Slough Town 0-2 Gillingham
Martins Lawal had to time a last ditch tackle to perfection as Slough came forward. The centre-half went in for a sliding challenge, with any mistake likely to be punished with a penalty or a booking at least.
Raif Jones cleared the danger for good before Danny Chaplin drilled a shot wide of Spencer’s right post shortly after.
Slough pulled a goal back just prior to the hour when Koroma appeared to cross from the far side, his delivery turned into a shot and Spencer, although well placed, was not expecting the resulting trajectory, and he was unable to back pedal keep it out.
The hosts sensed their chance and they thought they had drawn level on 71 minutes only for Malik, on as a sub, to be denied by Spencer who made an incredible save with his right leg before making a solid stop from a follow up shot.
Szymczyk struck the post on 86 minutes with Spencer able to gather the loose ball as Slough sent men forward late on to force extra-time. The keeper showed immense bravey in the closing stages as he came out to clear a long ball, colliding with an attacker before Kingston cleared.
F/T: Slough Town 1-2 Gillingham
Slough: De Biazze, Oladunjoye, Lampreia, Onwuka (Palfrey 81), Norris, Tiero, Chaplin (Stephenson 79), McDonald (Malik 67), Szymczyk, Dennison (Fiadzoe 90), Koroma (Fox 79)
Unused subs: Sangha, Robinson
Gills: Spencer, Jones (Broster 73), James, Lawal, Adams, Mhlanga, Silva, Kingston, Booth, Procopi (Thomas 73), Zinici (Kpotie 62)
Unused subs: Smart, Stone, Trialist, Carruthers
Referee: Mr Adam Jackson