Gillingham were eliminated from the group stage of the Vertu Trophy following a home defeat against Wycombe Wanderers.
Alex Lowry scored early on for Wycombe in Tuesday night’s group runner-up decider at Priestfield, Jack Matton doubled the lead in the second half, before Bradley Fink headed in a late third to complete a deserved win for the visitors.
Gills and League 1 Wycombe both started the game on the same points in Southern Group G, the winner on the night joining group table-toppers Colchester United in the round of 32, with an away tie for the ME7 victors.
The visitors proved too good for the Gills, meaning another early exit from a competition, after first-round defeats this season in the League Cup and the FA Cup.
It’s the fifth season running that the Gills have failed to qualify from the group stage of the EFL Trophy.
Just three Gills players kept their place in the starting eleven from the weekend league game at Bristol Rovers.
Twenty-year-old keeper Taite Holtam made his first appearance of the season, while fellow young pros Harry Waldock and Logan Dobbs started along with youth player Cruz Beszant. Watford loanee Travis Akomeash was also included from the off.
Wigan loan winger Jonny Smith made his first appearance since recovering from injury and he looked bright early on, picking out Aaron Rowe with a pass across the area, but the shot was saved by keeper Stuart Moore.
Lowry put Wycombe ahead with nine minutes gone, Junior Quitirna slipping him in to score.
It took a last-gasp challenge from Logan Dobbs to prevent the visitors scoring a second moments later, to deny Lowry, and Quitirna fired the loose ball over the bar.
Gillingham’s best chance of the opening half fell to Marcus Wyllie, sent in
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