Gillingham bowed out of the Carabao Cup as they were beaten under the lights at Priestfield after Cheltenham Town won a penalty shootout.

After Vadaine Oliver and Alfie May exchanged goals in the second half of the opening 45 minutes, the second period saw Max Ehmer pressed into an emergency centre forward role as Oliver failed to appear after the break, and along with David Tutonda (who hobbled off before half time) must now be doubtful for the Gills’ trip to Shrewsbury at the weekend as the manager’s threadbare squad is already stretched to breaking point.

Steve Evans exercised his squad to its’ very limits as he did in Round One at Crawley Town making five changes to the side that had started against Morecambe at the weekend, whilst COVID issues had restricted the Gills boss selection still further as the First-Round hero – Harvey Lintott – was ruled out alongside Gerard Sithole.

The home side almost had the best possible start as the returning Danny Lloyd did brilliantly down the left and a sliding Oliver just couldn’t stretch enough to convert at the far post.

There were loud penalty appeals from the home crowd as Tutonda went down under pressure, but referee Rock wasn’t interested, but as the Gills settled into the game, they also broke the deadlock.

Olly Lee did well down the left and his perfect cross to the back post saw Oliver rise magnificently above the defenders and keeper Owen Evans to power the ball into the net.

However, as the keeper received treatment following the sandwich between Oliver and a defender, the Gills scorer was seen hobbling away with a knock that he didn’t shake off.

The Gills’ lead lasted just four minutes although the Cheltenham equaliser had more than a hint of controversy. A long ball into the Gills box appeared to be handled by Lloyd and despite the protests – mainly again from the crowd – May pounced on the ricochet and buried the ball beyond Aaron Chapman and into the Gills net.

Tutonda then hobbled off after a heavy challenge and when Oliver failed to appear for the second half, the Gills were forced into a reshuffle as Jack Tucker came on at the back and Ehmer was pressed further forward. 

The second half was a real test of endurance with neither keeper being forced into a save worthy of the name but that’s not to say there weren’t chances, with the better ones coming from the visitors – Ellis Chapman blazed well wide of his namesake’s goal; Lewis Freestone sent an unmarked header straight at the Gills keeper before in stoppage time, with the Gills goal at his mercy, Taylor Perry sliced horribly high and wide! 

The Gills huffed and puffed and rarely threatened Evans’ goal itself – Ben Reeves let fly from the angle but couldn’t keep the shot down, and from a terrific ball in from sub Mustapha Carayol, McKenzie’s ball back in caused chaos in the Cheltenham defence as they were very fortunate the ball somehow found its’ way into the Rainham End, whilst from the best chance, the hard-working Danny Lloyd couldn’t keep a header down from Lee’s fine free kick!

And so then to penalties as the game ended one-one, and sadly for the Gills, after Olly Lee had driven home their first, Stuart O’Keefe had his saved by keeper Evans and with each of the Cheltenham takers netting, it was they who moved into Round Three – incidentally for the first time in their relatively short history – whilst the Gills head to the treatment room and the hard working medical team ahead of a trip to Shrewsbury at the weekend. 

GILLINGHAM – Aaron Chapman, McKenzie, Ehmer, Bennett, Tutonda (Akehurst 37), Adshead, O’Keefe, Reeves (Carayol 76), Lee, Oliver (Tucker H/T), Danny Lloyd.

Subs not used – Cumming, Jackson, Dempsey, Phillips.

Goal: Oliver (20).

CHELTENHAM TOWN – Evans, Blair, Horton, Tozer, Long (Boyle H/T), Freestone, Sercombe (Wright 60), Ellis Chapman, Perry, May (Thomas 66), George Lloyd.

Subs not used – Williams, Flinders, Bonds.

Goal: May (24).

REFEREE – Mr David Rock

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.