Gillingham 4 Brighton & Hove Albion under-21s 3: Jersey Mike’s Trophy group stage match report

Gillingham boosted their chances of reaching the Jersey Mike’s Trophy knockout stage with victory over Brighton under-21s on Tuesday night.

Goals from Tom Eaves, Bradley Dack and Ethan Coleman put the Gills in charge at the break. Louie Dayal added a fourth before Brighton’s Shane Nti pulled two goals back and Tyler Silsby added a third from a free-kick with almost the last kick.

Brighton stay above the Gills in Southern Section Group G on goal difference, with three points each.

The group will be concluded in early November, with the top two progressing. Cambridge United - leading the way with two wins from two - host Brighton on November 3. A week later, the Gills take on a Northampton side that have lost their first two games.

Ainsworth named a relatively strong team for the match against Brighton, with a mix of senior players and young pros.

Goalkeeper Rohan Luthra made his Gills debut following his recent signing, and Eaves made his first start since rejoining, making his 100th appearance for the club.

Defender Andy Smith and James Brophy maintained their places in the starting XI in a team captained by Dack.

The Gills needed to avoid defeat at Priestfield to keep alive their chances of progressing to the next stage of the EFL Trophy competition - now sponsored by a US sandwich company.

Brighton - the reigning Premier League 2 champions - had beaten Northampton Town in their first game. The Gills lost their opener 4-1 against Cambridge United a month earlier.

As expected, Brighton were confident on the ball, but for all of their possession, they had no end product in the opening half. Their best chance came from a free-kick late in the half that Tyler Silsby crashed off an upright.

By that point they were already