Gillingham development coach Mark Patterson could not fault the effort of his players in their Kent Reliance Senior Cup defeat to Charlton.

Patterson felt his team showed the desire required but lacked a sparkle in the final third at Priestfield.

"I think we could have done better, we huffed and puffed a bit and didn't create too many chances," said Patterson,

"The effort and commitment was there but both teams cancelled each other out.

"At times we got bogged down and didn't put the ball in, it's easy to make excuses but I'm not going to."

Patterson refused to blame young defender Callum Emptage for his first-half error that led to Charlton's winner. Striker Karlan Ahearne-Grant latched onto Emptage's weak backpass and chipped keeper Stuart Nelson.

"It was a finish of high quality that won the match, obviously we're disappointed as it was a cup final," said Patterson.

"I feel sorry for young Callum. His decision was right, he underhit the pass and it was a great finish.

"I'm not going to criticise anyone for it, it's part of learning. One of their lads did it in the first half but their keeper made a great save.

"We had time to get chances after that so there's no criticism."

As for the competitive nature of the final, underlined by some crunching challenges from the young visitors, Patterson welcomed the approach.

"I thought it was proper football," he said. "It's a cup final, I love that and there wasn't anything nasty out there.

"It doesn't happen enough in football nowaday as it's too soft. They learn a lot over these games. It's always a learning curve.

"It's been a good competition for us and we've had the experience of being in the cup final. We enter it to try and win it, and getting to the final is progression for us. We're hopeful the younger ones learn from that experience."