Gillingham 1 Colchester United 1 (Gills win 5-4 on penalties): Lewis Walker on target again in Papa John’s Trophy and John Akinde scores for the U’s

Gillingham ended their EFL Trophy group stage with a draw against Colchester United and a bonus point from a penalty shoot-out win.

Lewis Walker’s opener was cancelled out almost immediately by former Gills man John Akinde, both goals coming at the end of an otherwise uneventful first half. No goals in the second half meant the tie went to penalties, won with Jordan Green’s spot-kick.

Gillingham made just the four changes for their final group stage match, with striker Lewis Walker, wide-man Jordan Green, midfielder Dom Jefferies and goalkeeper Jake Turner all getting another chance to impress.

It was wholesale changes for the visitors, making use of a much bigger squad, with only captain Luke Chambers keeping his place in the U’s team after their 2-1 league win over Harrogate at the weekend. Former Gills striker John Akinde - who scored their winner last time out in the competition - was among the 10 players brought in to start at Priestfield.

Qualification from the first round group stage was wide open, the Gills knowing a decent win against the visitors would put them in with a good shout. With prize money of £10,000 on offer for each group stage win, this game wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Aside from the match there was a half-time shootout featuring US actor Anthony Anderson, in town to film his reality series ‘Anthony Anderson and Mom: European Vacation’ that will be broadcast in the States. If he was hoping to soak up some English football atmosphere this wasn’t the occasion.

Colchester had the better of the first half chances as the Gills struggled to create anything meaningful at the top end of the pitch. Beryly Lubala went close with a couple of efforts for the visitors while Alex Newby tested keeper Jake