Gillingham bowed out of the Football League Trophy as Fulham’s under 21s edged a close contest on a chilly night at Priestfield. 

A solitary goal from Aaron Loupala-bi just before half time proved to be the only goal of the contest for the Fulham youngsters whose impressive season – currently fourth in the twenty-six team Premier League 2 – continues with progress confirmed in the competition, whose name became the Bristol Street Motors Trophy since the previous round of group matches. 

It proved to be an interesting exercise for new Gills coach Stephen Clemence as he was able to give minutes to players who were not involved at Hereford in the FA Cup by making ten changes and whilst the Coach would have wanted to progress, his focus is surely on beginning his tenure in the Football League. 

Lewis Walker made his first start of the season and Tim Dieng played his first game since being injured at Grimsby among the changes. 

Fulham went close early on with a low shot before the Gills first chance saw Max Ehmer’s header being bundled round a post by keeper Steven Brenda. 

Matt MacArthur then cut inside to test the Fulham keeper and, in the Gills, next attack, Josh Chambers and Tom Nichols brilliantly combined but as the ball dropped for George Lapslie, the midfielder just could not get the contact he wanted. 

The visitors edged in front just before the break as Lopaulu-Bi did well to turn the ball in from Chris Donnill’s centre beyond the dive of Glenn Moris. 

After the break, the Gills slowly got on top in the tie but had Donnill’s header from Khristian Sekularac’s corner been better the game would have been over.  

Nichol’s free kick flicked off the edge of the defensive wall and dropped a yard wide and then Walker was denied by a great save though the keeper was fortunate that the ball fell behind MacArthur.  

Walker hit the side netting from a good move from Jonny Williams and Jayden Clarke before Nichols flashed a diving header wide from a tempting cross from Ike Orji. 

Morris did well to tip away a corner that seemed to have dropped over his head before the Gills keeper drilled a long free kick which sub Macauley Bonne flicked on and for a split second it seemed the ball might creep into the corner with Benda scrambling across his goal to grab. 

So, two games into the Clemence era, the new head coach now looks to start the job in League Two at the weekend as the Gills head to the razzamatazz that is Wrexham. 

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Orji, Ehmer, Ogie (Masterson), Max Clark, Dieng (Coleman), Chambers (Jayden Clarke), Lapslie (Jonny Williams), Macarthur (Bonne), Nichols, Walker 

Subs – Turner, Alexander 

FULHAM UNDER 21s – Benda, Tanton, Esenga, Francois (Pajaziti), Araujo, Odutayo, Donnell (Okkas), Harris, Loupalo-Bi (Šekularac), O’Neill, Lanquedoc (Gordon) 

Subs – Borto, Osmand, William 

REFEREE – Mr Hicks 

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.