An inexperienced Gillingham side were knocked out of the Kent Senior Cup by Welling United on Monday night.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler made eleven changes to the side that beat Torquay United 5-2 at Plainmoor on Saturday afternoon with all five subs that day named in the starting eleven for the game at Park View Road.

In an entertaining game that saw Welling having to change their shirts from red to blue so as not to clash with Gillingham’s pink kit, both sides traded chances in the first half.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 52nd minute when Ashley Miller was brought down in the box by Wings sub Jack Taylor. Up stepped Stefan Payne to send the ball past Craig Ross for 1-0 to the visitors.

In the 69th minute the referee levelled things up by awarding Welling a penalty as Tamer Tuna was pulled back by Gills defender Callum Davies. Lee Clarke comfortably stepped up and sent Paulo Gazzaniga the wrong way for 1-1.

Just as it seemed as though it would have to be resolved by extra time, former Gills striker Luis Cumbers’ cross from the right was diverted into his own net by Bradley Dack.

From here, Welling United will play Dover Athletic in the Quarter Final of the Kent Senior Cup, whilst Gillingham can get back to focussing on league action.

 

Welling line up: Craig Ross, Andy Sambrook (Jack Taylor H/T), Jordan Johnson, Jamie Day, Anthony Acheampong, Jack Parkinson, Quinten Conteh (Jack Kensington 64), Lee Clarke, Tamer Tuna, Luis Cumbers, Joe Healy.

Subs not used: Andy Pugh, Jack Moore, Ben Martin.

Goals: Clarke (pen 69), Dack (og 90).

Booked: Sambrook (36), Cumbers (88).

Gillingham line up: Paulo Gazzaniga, Jack Evans, Joe Carter, Dean Rance (Jack Parter 75), Connor Essam, Callum Davies, Bradley Dack, Jake Hessenthaler, Stefan Payne, Nathan Nyaflii, Ashley Miller (Kane Haysman 80).

Subs not used: Stephen Butcher, Aaron Millbank, Ashley Bourne.

Goal: Payne (pen 52).

Booked: Payne (34), Miller (36), Davies (69).

Referee: Mr Ian Crouch

Attendance: 206