Gillingham 0 Colchester 1

Gillingham were dumped out of a second cup competition by Colchester on Tuesday night.

A second half free-kick from Mark Yeates was all that separated the sides at Priestfield to end Gillingham’s participation in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The 1-0 defeat comes two months after the same side knocked them out of the Carling Cup.

There was little to separate the sides in the first half with both having chances to take the initiative.

Albert Jarrett came close with a free-kick midway through the opening half but League 1 side Colchester almost netted themselves when as a save from Simon Royce bounced up for Dean Hammond but, with the goal at his mercy, he headed over.

Jarrett had another chance with a low shot that visiting keeper Mark Cousins did well to save and Nicky Southall, making an immediate return following the end of his loan move to Dover, saw his dipped shot go inches over.

Gillingham finished the first half strongly and pressed from the start of the second, but it was Colchester midfielder Johnnie Jackson who almost scored with a shot that whistled just past Royce’s post.

The Gills fell behind on the hour when Yeates scored direct from a free-kick 25-yards out.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson tried to turn things around with youngster Andy Pugh and first year youth player Tom Murphy taking over in attack for the final 15 minutes. The Gills pressed for the equaliser in the final minutes but were left frustrated by Colchester once more.

Manager Mark Stimson said: "It was a better performance but still not the result we wanted. We did better than Saturday but we still didn’t get that win that I want, the players desperately want and I’m sure the fans want.

"There is still work to be done but if we can take a positive out of it, it would be that the performance was better."

Stimson handed Barry Fuller the captain's armband in the match and revealed that the defender will keep it - replacing Andrew Crofts as club skipper.

Stimson said: "He is desperate to win things and he’s not frightened to give constructive criticism to people, and that’s why I gave Barry the arm band.

"He’ll keep that from now on because I feel he’s got it in his locker to do it."

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Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Bentley, Jackson (Pugh 75mins), Southall, Weston, Mills, Jarrett (Richards 81mins), Barcham (Murphy 75mins). Subs not used: Lewis, Kiely.

Colchester: Cousins, White, Reid, Heath, Barrowdale, Yeates, Hammond, Perkins, Jackson, Platt, Gillespie (Vernon 89mins). Subs not used: Gerkan, Izzet, Baldwin, Wordsworth.

Attendance: 1,557