Gillingham’s participation in this season’s Papa John’s Trophy continues.

After earning a point from their penalty shoot-out defeat to Group winners Arsenal, an Ipswich defeat at Crawley has sent Steve Evans’ side into the knock-out stages.

A competition which many, including the Gills boss, have questioned if it should have even be played during this strangest of seasons. But the powers that be gave the competition the green light, and after beating Crawley and losing at Ipswich, the Gills went into their final group game knowing that a win would have taken them through, but in the end a point proved enough!

Evans would have taken much pleasure at the way his side rallied after going behind early on and levelled after the break through Arsenal loanee Trae Coyle to actually “draw” the match at ninety minutes only for the visitors to be lethal from twelve yards to seal the “bonus” point and progress!

The young Gunners were ahead with the game’s first real foray forward as Catalin Cirjan opened the scoring in the opening ten minutes firing beyond Joe Walsh in the Gills goal. Walsh then pulled off a stunning save to deny Folarin Balogun’s curling effort that seemed destined for the top corner as the game opened up with both sides knowing that victory would almost certainly mean qualification for the knock-out stages.

Vadaine Oliver had a couple of opportunities before Trae Coyle almost levelled after a lovely pass from Henry Woods. Zech Medley then almost scored against his parent club getting on the end of a Josh Eccles centre – his shot being blocked as the game flowed from end to end.

The second half began with Robbie McKenzie replacing Ryan Jackson and it was the Gills who upped the tempo in search of an equaliser. Oliver headed over a Medley cross before the home side did level the scores with Coyle emphasising his “employers” what he can do as his shot beat Macy into the bottom corner.

Both sides were looking for the win – sub Dominic Samuel and Coyle both went close, whilst at the other end Arsenal threatened with chances for Emile Smith-Rowe and Balogun.

In the closing stages, the chances kept coming and both keepers excelled – Macy denied Coyle before Walsh kept the home side in the game with a great save from Balogun again.

A point apiece then at the final whistle, but this competition doesn’t recognise draws and the game went to penalties. Coyle duly converted the first, but then Macy saved brilliantly from Samuel and McKenzie crashed his spot kick against the post before Josh Eccles converted the Gills fourth penalty.

Sadly, the young Gunners penalties were all top drawer and when Cirjan beat Walsh with Arsenal’s fourth, the Gills thought their Papa John Trophy campaign was over for another season – until news of Ipswich’s defeat came through and the Gills were through not that many, including boss Evans, will have lost too much sleep over potentially bowing out of the Trophy!

The Gills now have ten days off before they return to action – ten days where Evans will be hoping that all the knocks and bumps that his wafer thin squad have been carrying will clear up before Lee Bowyer and Charlton Athletic come a calling on November 21st .

GILLINGHAM – Walsh, Jackson (McKenzie), Medley, Maghoma, Drysdale, Eccles, Woods, Willock (Dempsey), Oliver (Samuel), MacDonald, Coyle

Subs – Bonham, Ogilvie, Tucker, Akinde

ARSENAL U23s – Mason, Monlouis, Lopez-Salguero, Chambers (Lang), Saliba, Akinola, Cottrell, Cirjan, Smith-Rowe, Moller, Balogun

Subs – Ejeheri, Dinzeyi, Ideho, Edwards

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.