No name in the hat for Gills

Carabao Cup exit as Ainsworth’s side outclassed by high-flying Luton

David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack.

Gillingham 0

Luton Town 3

Wells 43, Benagr 59, Kodua 78

Luton Town rather than Gillingham will be in the hat for the Carabao Cup second round draw on Monday evening after a deserved 3-0 victory at Priestfield.

Gareth Ainsworth was quick to acknowledge the quality of the opposition afterwards, describing Luton as a side capable of reaching the Championship next season and insisting he was ‘not too down’ about the result. ‘I think they'll be in the Championship come 27/28. I really do believe that. They settled the ball better than us. They were quicker than us.’  

However, the manager also admitted Gillingham had been ‘just a little bit easy to score against,’ adding, ‘A couple of the goals for me were just too easy.’

Ainsworth handed full debuts to summer signings Zane Albarus, James Brophy, Nick Freeman and Kadeem Harris, while goalkeeper Owen Mason, on emergency loan from Mansfield Town, also started. 19-year-old Logan Dobbs, having previously made three appearances in last season's EFL Trophy, began on the left of a back three, alongside captain Omar Beckles and Andy Smith. Of the side that started the final game of last season against Shrewsbury Town, only Ronan Hale, Robbie McKenzie and Smith retained their places.

Centre-back Liam Gordon was unavailable as he served a suspension carried over from the end of last season. Many expect him to replace Armani Little as club captain when the League Two campaign begins next weekend. Ainsworth gave little away when asked about the captaincy. ‘We'll wait and see next week. I will announce it next week.’

Despite the scoreline, Mason was among Gillingham's standout performers. Drafted in to cover for injured Southampton loanee, Ollie Wright, the goalkeeper was called into action after just 90 seconds, saving from Jake Richards. He was then forced into a succession of stops in front of the Rainham End including an athletic dive to turn away Jordan Clark's volley, as he helped keep The Gills in the contest in the first half.

Aside from a solitary League appearance for Mansfield Town, much of Mason's senior experience has come in non-league football, including loan spells over the past two seasons with Gateshead and Southend United.

Ainsworth felt the 22-year-old justified his selection, praising his distribution and describing his first-half display as one that included ‘some good saves.’ With Taite Holtam, 21, on the bench, the Gills manager explained: ‘Taite, for me, just a bit early for him, to shove him in and be number one,’ adding that the club would continue to utilise the emergency loan route while Wright remains sidelined.

While Luton were not at full strength, Jack Wilshere's side still possessed a level of quality and athleticism that underlined their status as strong favourites. Gillingham struggled to gain a foothold and were second best in most areas of the pitch.

The Gills flickered briefly after the hydration break, creating their best opening of the first half when Seb Palmer-Houlden, who otherwise struggled to make an impact, broke forward and saw his long-range effort blocked by George Johnston.

For all of Luton’s first half possession, their final ball had lacked real incision and offered the prospect that Gills might go in at the interval with the scores still level.

That changed when the visitors finally broke through two minutes before half time. The impressive Jayden Luker, allowed plenty of space on the edge of The Gills’ box, slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Nahki Wells, who finished beyond Mason. Luker pulled up injured shortly after the interval and was replaced by Kasey Palmer.

Luton tightened their grip on the game after the break, with the promising Benny Benagr posing an increasing threat down the left flank. The teenager's persistence was rewarded on the hour mark as the visitors, once again blending their youth and experience, doubled their lead.

Liam Walsh took a quick free-kick in midfield that released 36-year-old Wells, who outpaced Beckles, two years his junior, before driving a shot that Mason could only parry. Benagr reacted quickest, beating Freeman to the loose ball to tap in the rebound. The goal frustrated Ainsworth, who felt the quick free kick that sparked the move should have been prevented.

Ainsworth emptied his youthful bench on 67 minutes sending on five replacements in Sully Booth, Will Goodwin, Sheldon Kendall, Conor McManus and Harry Waldock.

Jack Wilshere made his own substitutions including the introduction of Harrison Ashby and Gideon Kodua who were instrumental in Luton’s third goal. Ashby, on loan from Newcastle United and making his debut for Luton, is the son of former Gills defender, Barry who made over 300 appearances for the club between 1997 and 2005.

Following an aerial bombardment of Mason’s goal in a sequence of corners from the right, Ashby took the next from the left. He retrieved the ball when it was only partially cleared. Cutting easily into The Gills’ area, Ashby fired a shot that Mason spilt. Kodua, an FA Youth Cup winner under Wilshere at Arsenal, was the first to react heading the ball home. It was another goal conceded that disappointed Ainsworth with its reminder of last season’s defensive frailty at corners.

Gills’ best chance of the game fell to Will Goodwin. On target, his deflected shot lacked power and was easily gathered by the untested Luton keeper, Josh Keely.

Having used all five substitutes, Gills finished the game with ten men after recent arrival Kendall, 18, was forced off late on. Ainsworth played down concerns about Kendall’s fitness afterwards, suggesting the youngster may have suffered cramp rather than a more serious injury.

The visitors came close to a fourth goal deep into stoppage time when Ashby again picked out the unmarked Kodua, only for the substitute's effort to strike the post.

Speaking after the game, the impressive Albarus, whose early second-half booking for a foul on Isaiah Jones reflected his commitment and exuberance, was pleased with his own contribution while recognising there was room for improvement. ‘I was really happy to start, but personally I think I could be better,’ he said. The midfielder also shared his manager's frustrations at the way Gillingham conceded, admitting, ‘The way we conceded, especially the last two goals, wasn't good enough,’ although he acknowledged the hosts had been beaten by ‘a very, very good side.’

Despite the defeat, Ainsworth drew encouragement from the performance of several of his younger players. ‘There were some decent performances in there, some real eye-openers,’ said Ainsworth, who believes supporters will be seeing more of the club's emerging talent as the season progresses.

With experienced players expected to return for next Saturday's League Two opener, Ainsworth's focus now turns to ensuring Gillingham are, in his words, ‘hard to beat and hard to score against’.

Gillingham 3-4-2-1 O Mason 7.5 – A Smith 6.0, O Beckles 5.9, L Dobbs 5.8 (C McManus 68, 6.3) – N. Freeman 6.4, R McKenzie 6.0, Z. Albarus 5.7 (H Waldock 67, 6.1), K Harris 6.5 (S Kendall 67, 5.9) – J. Brophy 6.4, R Hale 5.8 (S Booth 67, 5.9) – S Palmer-Houlden 5.7 (W Goodwin 67, 6.1)

Booked Albarus

Luton Town 4-1-4-1 J Keeley 7.6 – I Jones 7.0 (H Ashby 69, 7.0), H Odoffin 7.6, G Johnston 7.9, K Naismith 7.8 – L Walsh 7.3 (S Sandal 69, 6.5) – J Richards 6.7 (S Morris 68, 6.6), J Luker 7.0 (K Palmer 48, 6.6), J Clark 8.0, B Benagr 7.5 (G Kodua 69, 7.3) – N Wells 7.9

Booked Morris

Referee Stephen Parkinson Attendance 4,015 (Away Fans: 842)

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