Charlton Athletic 3 Gillingham 0: Lewis Walker scored an own goal in the Papa John’s Trophy match before Aaron Henry and Miles Leaburn added goals for The Addicks

Gillingham took a break from League 2 action but found no joy at the hands of Charlton in the Papa John’s Trophy group stage opener.

Striker Lewis Walker was handed a starting role for Gillingham but unfortunately his top-corner effort beat his own goalkeeper to give Charlton an early lead at The Valley. Teenagers Aaron Henry and Miles Leaburn extended the lead after the break. It’s another 90 minutes where the Gills have failed to score, that run now extended to six games in all competitions.

Gillingham manager Neil Harris named a relatively strong side for the Trophy match but didn’t really have too many options with such a slender squad.

He had the bonus of being able to recall experienced midfielder Shaun Williams, captaining the side after missing the previous four matches because of injury. Dom Jefferies also returned and was named among the subs.

Regular starters Max Ehmer, Mikael Mandron, Jordan Green and Stuart O’Keefe were given a breather as Harris named all but O’Keefe on the bench, the skipper being the only senior player not to be included.

Charlton were all-change, a completely different eleven named from the one which played Wycombe in League 1 for them on Saturday. Seven of their starters were 20 or younger.

Gills - without a goal in their previous five matches - reverted to a 4-4-2 set-up as Lewis Walker and Scott Kashket were picked to try and end that goal drought.

A great early chance fell to Alex MacDonald but he dragged the effort wide after Williams had dropped the ball into his path with an exquisite pass, showing the kind of quality with his delivery that had been missing.

The Gills almost undid their positive early approach as a lapse at the back allowed Miles Leaburn in and Jake Turner had to