Nine-man Gillingham bowed out of the FA Youth Cup to Swindon Town in Joe Dunne’s first game in charge. 

Ironically former boss Mark Moss returned with a Swindon side that edged a frantic contest where the Gills were always chasing the game after Botan Ameen’s low drive gave the visitors an early lead.

Joe Orpwood then equalised for the Gills with a gloriously angled lob before becoming the first Gills player to see red leaving referee Heron with no option after a reckless challenge just moments after being cautioned. 

The visitors regained the lead not long after the break when a low cross was turned into his own net by Logan Dobbs with the ball almost apologetically rolling into the net in front of the Rainham End.

The Gills’ task got even steeper when Jonah Walker then got shown a straight red after a clash with Dani Gonzalez which the Swindon player certainly made the most of. 

There was so nearly a fairy tale end though for the nine-men who would have forced extra time but for an incredible save from Lucas Myers to deny Harry Waldock in stoppage time. 

It was an even start as Jimmy Heasman headed at Myers from Cruz Beszant’s cross whilst Gonzalez tested Gills keeper Carter Sullivan from twenty yards. 

The visitors took the lead when Ameen drove home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box past a motionless Sullivan. The lead was nearly doubled shortly after when Harry Chard’s free kick whistled narrowly wide. 

The Gills levelled with a terrific goal – Orpwood was found on a run in behind the full-back and with Myers in no-man’s land, the Gills man brilliantly lobbed the ball over the stranded Swindon keeper and into the net to bring Dunne’s side deservedly level. 

Orpwood then went from hero to villain with a clumsy challenge just moments after being booked leaving the Gills down to ten men shortly before the break giving Swindon the advantage and one that they would have taken in after half time on the scoreboard had Sullivan not made a brilliant save to keep out George Alston’s low drive just before the break. 

The visitors were on the front foot early in the second period and were in front shortly after the break as a ball in from the right was aimed at Gonzalez and as he and Dobbs challenged for the ball, the ball crept in at the near post with Sullivan wrong footed and stranded. 

Chard then thundered an effort in the Gills side netting before Beszant couldn’t convert good work from Stan Sargent as he fired over shortly before Walker was shown a straight red after he clashed with Gonzalez in what appeared to just be a strong challenge. 

Sullivan then kept the nine men in the game with a really fine block with his legs to deny Liam Hutt and just as the fourth official showed six minutes of stoppage time, Sargent slipped the ball through to Waddock, who couldn’t really have hit his shot much sweeter but Myers wasn’t to be beaten, making the save of the night plunging to his right to keep the ball out and as the ball flew away from the Swindon goal, Gillingham saw their FA Youth Cup adventure for another year disappear. 

GILLINGHAM YOUTH – Sullivan, Orpwood, Walker, Kot (Luxton 85), Dobbs, Webster, Beszant (Dayal 65), White (Asaba 71), Sargent, Waldock, Heasman (Clark 65). 

Subs not used – Hegarty, Cross, Carruthers.

SWINDON TOWN YOUTH – Myers, Hutt, Chard, Foye, McCormick, Stewart, Ameen, Terry (Larkins 74), Obodo (Owiti 85), Gonzalez (Grey 95), Alston (Britchford-Stanley 90). 

Subs not used – Robinson, Churchley, Head. 

REFEREE – Mr. Gerry Heron 

Attendance: 404 (37 Swindon).

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.