Gillingham’s Carabao Cup journey for another season is over, as they exit at the third round stage 1-0 away at Stoke City.

Tyrese Campbell’s solitary first half goal sent Steve Evans side out of the competition at the Bet365 Stadium, but the Gills made their Championship opponents Stoke City work all the way.

With a trip to either Aston Villa or Bristol City in Round Four, it was to be the home sides night, and whilst manager Evans would have been satisfied that it was another ninety minutes in the players legs, the Gills boss will have been disappointed that he couldn’t have had new signing Dominic Samuel at his disposal – his medical registration missed the deadline to play – whilst keeper John Bonham reported a back strain and wasn’t risked.

The Gills had a good half chance early on when Robbie McKenzie’s deep cross is headed wide by John Akinde who was effectively leading the line on his own.

The visitors had a penalty shout turned away on 22 minutes when Akinde was nudged in the box, and then just before the half hour, Joe Walsh was called into a great block to deny Harry Souttar when a free-kick dropped to the big defender in the box – his shot drew a terrific block from the young Gills stopper.

The home were in front eight minutes from the break when Campbell raced through onto Jordan Thompson’s through ball before superbly sliding the ball past Walsh clinically. It could have been worse for the Gills before the break, but Walsh certainly earned his spurs by denying Oakley-Boothe.

The Gills did have a good early chance after the break when Connor Ogilvie connected to Jordan Graham’s cross, but the defender’s header was deflected wide.

Walsh then denied Souttar again, before on the hour the home side thought they had doubled their advantage when Josh Tymon’s drive smacked against the frame of Walsh’s goal – the young keeper may have got a touch but the ball stayed out.

Try as they might the visitors struggled to find a way back into the game, and five minutes from time, Stoke thought they’d sealed progress – the ball finished in the net only for referee Webb to disallow the goal.

So, the Gills interest in the Carabao Cup/EFL Cup is over for another season – the club have still only ever played in the Fourth Round twice in the competitions history – all focus now falls on Blackpool’s trip to Priestfield at the weekend.

STOKE CITY – Davies, Smooth, Collins, Souttar, Fox, Oakley-Boothe, Thompson, Tymon, Campbell (Fletcher 67), Gregory (Brown 78), McClean

Subs – Nna-Noukeu, Batth, Cousins, Ince, Powell

GILLINGHAM – Walsh, Ogilvie, McKenzie, Medley, Maghoma, Graham, Robertson (Jackson 72), Woods, Coyle (Oliver 70), Willock (MacDonald 38), Akinde

Subs – Tucker, Mellis

REFEREE – Mr Webb