A youthful Gills second string played out a battling goalless draw at Crawley on Wednesday afternoon to complete their totesport.com Combination campaign.

Andy Hessenthaler named a mixture of first and second year scholars plus a trialist and a promising under-16 player, while Crawley fielded eight players with first-team experience who had helped the Red Devils win promotion to the Football League this season.

Gills forced the first chance of the game in the 14th minute when George Humber’s strong run and shot forced a low save from Nick Jordan.

Jamie Cook drew a save from Daren Hawkes (pictured) with an attempted chip, then volleyed wide before Callum Davies denied him with a brilliantly timed sliding challenge.

Bradley Dack fired straight at the keeper as Gills pressed but then at the other end Hawkes helped over a curling free-kick from William Gibson before Wade Eason scooped over the bar from three yards.

Hawkes made another decent stop to deny Trevor McCreadie before producing a fine save to deny Cook from the penalty spot on 55 minutes after Alex Brown was harshly penalised for a nudge on Simon Rusk.

Jack Evans sent two long range free-kicks wide and Dack was denied by Jordan before under-16 youngster Stephen Butcher came off the bench for 20 minutes at right-back, looking comfortable.

Hawkes tipped over a Gibson strike and Cook smacked another chance wide before the Gills had the final chance with Evans firing wide after Ashley Miller and Tom Brunt had created an opening.

Matt Pooley, a trialist from Dagenham, was replaced after 70 minutes.

Gillingham: Hawkes, Pooley (Butcher 70mins), Parter (Hare 70mins), Brunt, Evans, Davies, Humber (Nyafli 60mins), A Brown, Miller, Hessenthaler, Dack. Subs not used: Mackenzie, Bourne.