Mark McCammon sealed Gillingham's passage into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy confidently converting the spot-kick to settle the shoot-out decider in front of less than 1,800 at Priestfield on Tuesday night.

McCammon (pictured) stepped up to beat goalkeeper Mark Cousins as the Gills came from behind to seal their first win in four games against the Essex club, who put them out of the same competition and the Carling Cup last season and beat them in the league a fortnight ago.

It also robbed former Priestfield favourite Joe Dunne of the chance to end his caretaker spell with a win, as Colchester are set to name former Watford boss Adie Boothroyd as their new manager on Wednesday.

Simeon Jackson, Chris Palmer and Curtis Weston scored Gills’ other successful spot-kicks, while Adam Miller struck the bar with his effort.

Scott Vernon, Anthony Wordsworth and Matt Lockwood converted for Colchester. Alan Julian pulled off a fine save to deny David Fox and David Perkins blasted over the bar, leaving McCammon to finish the job.

Boss Mark Stimson made six changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Walsall, giving first starts to Jacob Erskine and Luke Rooney, while skipper Barry Fuller played, despite being injured at the weekend, but John Nutter was a late withdrawal with a virus.

Rooney went close to putting Gills in front after four minutes, his low shot saved by Cousins, but substitute Jackson finally broke the deadlock with a 77th minute penalty after Andy Barcham had been felled in the box by John White.

However Colchester were level eight minutes later when Clive Platt headed home, after Julian had kept out Vernon's close-range header.

Curtis Weston, who was sent on with Jackson and Kevin Maher with 22 minutes left, might have won the tie a minute from the end, curling his effort wide of the far post. Defender Garry Richards just failed to get on the end of Palmer's corner in stoppage time.

No extra-time meant the tie was decided from the spot with the Gills sending their faithful following, all housed in the main stand on a clear blustery evening, home happy.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Gowling, Richards, Palmer, Rooney (sub Weston 68 mins), Miller, Jackman (Maher 68 mins), Barcham, McCammon, Erskine (Jackson 68 mins), Subs not used Bentley, Royce. Attendance: 1,725.