Gillingham's players watch the penalty shoot-out Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham suffered penalty heartache in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Southend won the match at Roots Hall 4-3 in sudden death after the game ended goalless in normal time.

Neither team were able to find the target in the opening 45 minutes but both went close.

Gillingham’s best first half chances came early in the game, with Luke Rooney shooting wide and Cody McDonald sending a downward header just the wrong side of the post.

With 18 minutes gone former Gills transfer target Barry Corr had a shot that was tipped over by keeper Lance Cronin.

Later in the half Cronin again made a good save, this time with his legs, as he denied Adam Bouzid.

Southend came close to winning it late on when Barry Fuller’s tackle on Matt Paterson fell to Blair Sturrock but Cronin saved well.

Jack Payne had a good chance with six minutes left but struck the shot over the bar from on the edge of the box.

During the shoot-out John Nutter, Kevin Maher and Mark McCammon scored and Cronin saved two from Southend, but it wasn’t enough, as Sturrock scored the deciding spot kick after Payne missed his in sudden-death.

Gills: Cronin, Fuller, Nutter, Gowling, Sinclair, J Payne, Spiller, Maher, Rooney (Barcham 60mins), McCammon, McDonald (S Payne 68mins). Subs: Julian, White, Essam.

Southend: Evans, Gilbert, Bouzid (Soares 46mins), Simpson, Mohsni, Grant, Easton, Hall (Zaaboub 46mins), Sturrock, Barker, Corr (Paterson 64mins). Subs: Morris, Coughlan.

Attendance: 3,073

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