Gillingham 2 Luton Town 1

Match 29/15/1234 - Tuesday, 6th October 2015 - JPT 2nd Round

Gillingham (0) 23 Ehmer 65, Dack 83
Luton Town (1) 1 McGeehan 41
Attendance: 3,428

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: None purchased
Mileage: 56/1,789

Match Report

I've never been fully convinced of the value of the Football League Trophy to either the competing clubs or their supporters.

The clubs are hamstrung with the rules regarding weakened teams reducing the opportunity to assess the form of fringe players or blood youngsters whilst supporters seem, by evidence of low attendance figures, not to take the competition seriously until such time as Wembley is on the horizon.

Indeed, Gillingham's run last year to the Area Finals, left me rather embarrassingly contemplating a Wembley visit without having seen a round en-route.

On a personal basis, the competition can fill a empty Tuesday evening but without any enthusiasm for the event. This particular evening gave me the choice of the Paintpot or the Tinpot. The Paintpot won only by virtue of Tonbridge's Kent Senior Cup tie being at Margate, an extra 40 miles on the Tuesday night drive.

The League Two visitors acquited themselves well in a first half in which they shaded possession and earned a half-time lead just prior to the break with a good passing move that ended with a cross from left back Dan Potts meeting the head of Cameron McGeehan at the far post.

Luton stretched Stuart Nelson into a good diving save before conceding an equaliser on 65 minutes. Having failed to clear their lines following a corner, the ball was lofted back into the penalty area. The old adage of not letting the ball bounce was ignored and when Cody McDonald's shot was parried by the keeper, the ball found the feet of Max Ehmer and the German central defender made no mistake.

Seven minutes remained to avoid the penalty shoot-out when substitute Bradley Garmston made a surging run down the left to the bye-line his cross to the near post was just about blocked by Tyler, but Bradley Dack was on hand to touch in the rebound. If that brought a smile to the face of Gillingham supporters then the announcement of Man of the Match brought raucous laughter when Garmston was chosen for a mere 17 minutes worth of effort!

Luton spurned a late opportunity when Potts was free on the left side of the six yard box but his shot was hopelessly wide.

Paintpot or Tinpot, it's silverware and worth a decent shout. Might see you at Wembley!