Simeon Jackson takes on Philip Edwards during Gillingham's FA Cup defeat at Accrington Stanley. Picture: Barry Goodwin

By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham crashed out of the FA Cup after a late defeat at Accrington in the third round on Tuesday night.

John Miles' 81st-minute strike sealed the deserved, win for their League 2 hosts and denied Gills a home tie with Premier League Fulham on Saturday.

Gillingham were put under plenty of pressure in the opening half as the hosts dominated the early stages. That pattern set the tone for the rest of the match as Mark Stimson's side never got a grip on the game.

Stimson was disappointed to see a potential fourth round tie against Fulham disappear.

He said: “The performance was a mixed bag. In the first half we were under the cosh a bit but we weathered that and came out second half and looked better.

“We had a fantastic chance through Mark Bentley and you would probably wish that was your striker.

“The game looked like it was going to go to a replay but it didn’t and we are hugely disappointed because the reward in the next tie is massive.

“I’m hugely disappointed like those fans who travelled up in their numbers. They were a credit to their football club.”

Accrington had several early chances but keeper Alan Julian saw the majority go wide. Sean McConville, Robert Grant and Michael Symes all went close.

The best of those early chance fell to Grant after 12 minutes. He was found inside the six-yard box by Dean Winnard but a deflection from Tom Wynter helped the ball go just past the post.

A rare opening at the other end fell to Chris Palmer but he shot the ball over while Josh Gowling also headed a corner well wide.

Gillingham’s hopes weren’t helped when Curtis Weston hobbled off injured after 34 minutes. Weston had been recalled to the team after Saturday’s defeat at Swindon where he had started on the bench.

Gills were thankful to go in level at the break but could have seized the initiative at the start of the second half. Stuart Lewis fed Mark Bentley but his shot was saved by Dean Bouzanis and the follow-up from Simeon Jackson was blocked.

Julian kept the visitors in the tie with a good save when he saved well from Michael Symes with 17 minutes remaining and with 13 minutes left, Stimson introduced Andy Barcham for Palmer after a long spell out injured.

The change had little effect, however, and the breakthrough for the hosts came with nine minutes left when Miles smashed home from the edge of the box.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Wynter, Gowling, Lewis, Bentley, Palmer (Barcham 77mins), Weston (Maher 34mins), Oli (McCammon 66mins), Jackson, Subs not used: Locke, Yussuff, Rooney, Payne.

Accrington: Bouzanis, Kempson, Procter, Miles, Grant, Edwards, Ryan, Winnard, McConville (Kee 73mins), Symes, Lees. Subs not used: Dunbavin, Turner, Mullin.

Attendance: 1,322.