Gillingham 4 Fulham under-21s 1: Vertu Trophy Southern Section Group G match report from Priestfield Stadium

Gillingham made a winning start to their Vertu Trophy challenge with a trio of teenagers on the scoresheet against Fulham under-21s.

Logan Dobbs struck an early opener for the Gills on his first senior appearance, 17-year-old youth player Cruz Beszant netted the second, Marcus Wyllie added a third and youth striker Stan Sargent made it four. Fulham got one back in stoppage-time through Aaron Loupalo-Bi as it finished 4-1.

Just a day after the Gills had sold homegrown forward Joe Gbode to Luton Town, there looks to be plenty more talent coming through if Tuesday night was anything to go by.

Gillingham have only once progressed past the group stage in the Trophy in the previous seven seasons and were then beaten in round two by a Cambridge United team managed by Mark Bonner.

It was an impressive way to start their 2025/26 Trophy campaign - netting £10,000 for the win - ahead of further group games against Colchester United and Wycombe Wanderers.

Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth named a mixed side to start, throwing in some youth players alongside more experienced campaigners.

New loan signing Travis Akomeah started in the centre of defence alongside 18-year-old Dobbs.

Akomeah’s only other senior football had come in the EFL Trophy for Chelsea under-21s, making two appearances for them in 2024 before a move to Watford.

Dobbs has been a regular starter for Welling United on loan this season, while Harry Waldock was named in the eleven despite limited time at Whitehawk during his temporary spell there.

On this evidence, Waldock deserves more than late substitute appearances in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Teenage midfielders Beszant and Waldock were both making their first starts for the Gills in a senior first-team game.

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