Gillingham's under-21 side were knocked out of the U21 Premier League Cup after a 4-0 defeat to Birmingham City on Tuesday night. The loss at MEMS Priestfield Stadium ended their hopes of progressing from the group stage.
Pete Gill noted that "Gills started well and nearly took the lead on eight minutes." The young Gills dominated the opening 20 minutes and saw Sheldon Kendall force a fine save from visiting keeper Warmington. Goalkeeper Taite Holtam, with captain Cameron Antwi marshalling the midfield, then made an excellent stop to deny Carvalho Santos early in the second half.
Birmingham's clinical finish
The game turned when the ball was nicked off Holtam as he went to gather on the edge of his box, allowing Divine Ugorji to tap in from close range. Birmingham's second came from distance, a 25-yard strike from Josh Quirk. A headed goal from Kieran Burrell from a corner made it three, before Salif Biol's deflected long-range effort in stoppage time completed the scoring. Gillingham's best chance to get back into the game saw Ronnie Booth strike the post.
The senior side's recent form provides a brighter backdrop, sitting 11th in League Two with nine points from six games. The U21s' next fixture is yet to be confirmed, while the first team prepare for their next League Two match.
More detail at Gillingham Football Club
