Danny Kedwell has a first half effort cleared off the line Pic: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

A second half penalty proved costly for Gillingham as they crashed out of the Carling Cup in the first round.

Brighton scored their winning goal from the penalty spot on 66 minutes with Ashley Barnes converting for the Championship team, after Andy Frampton had felled Will Buckley in the box.

Gillingham, who lined up with an unchanged team from the one which beat Cheltenham 1-0 in the league on Saturday, showed they could match their higher league opponents in the opening stages.

The hosts, who also opened their season with a win, were looking nervy at the back and one misplaced pass put Chris Whelpdale in the clear. Keeper Casper Ankergren made the save and the follow-up from Danny Kedwell was cleared off the line.

Brighton warmed up as the first half wore on and at least three chances fell at the feet of striker Craig Noone, but he was unable to get a shot on target, despite having the home side’s best chances.

Kedwell put a header over the bar for the Gills as the chances began to dry up.

Gus Poyet’s side had pace in abundance and they were giving Barry Fuller a busy workout down the left. Fuller ended up in the book for one late challenge and moments later got the faintest touches on another tackle, as the 1,328 fans following the Gills behind the goal held their breath.

Noone ended the first half with another miss. He received the ball at the far post, unmarked, but smashed the effort into the side netting.

The half had ended with Brighton well on top and they came close early in the second half, with Noone finding the target with a low shot that Ross Flitney got down well to save.

From a corner the Gills caused a scare when Danny Spiller’s cross was cleared only as far as Lewis Montrose, whose header back in was hooked clear by Marcus Painter.

Boss Andy Hessenthaler looked to shake things up on the hour by bringing Curtis Weston on in place of Charlie Lee.

The Gills were behind on 66 minutes when Frampton’s foul on Buckley led referee Brendan Malone to point to the spot and Barnes converted.

Mr Malone took his yellow card count to seven in the final moments when a foul from Stefan Payne on Romain Vincelot saw most of the players from both teams confront each other.

The game lost its way in the final stages, with fouls from both sides and the referee making some curious decisions.

Gills: Flitney, Fuller (Fish 80mins), Martin, Frampton, Lawrence, J Payne, Spiller (S Payne 72mins), Montrose, Lee (Weston 58mins), Whelpdale, Kedwell. Subs: Gazzaniga, King, Richards, Rance.

Brighton: Ankergren, Greer, Dunk, Barnes, Noone, Calderon, Dicker, Vincelot, Painter, Bridcutt, Buckley. Subs: Brezovan, Navarro, Sparrow, Agdestein, Taricco, Cook, Bergkamp.

Attendance: 16,295.