Gillingham’s youth team were beaten in the national final of the Youth Alliance League Cup.

Rochdale made the long trip to Priestfield for Wednesday’s final and went home with the trophy after a 3-0 win.

The Gills under-18s, managed by Craig Stone, booked their place in the final after beating Peterborough United on penalties in the regional final last month.

Rochdale took an early lead at Priestfield with Jordan Scanlon finding the net with a low drive after just eight minutes.

Gillingham responded well to the early setback and Bailey Akehurst forced visiting keeper Bradley Kelly into a save from a free-kick.

But Rochdale went into the break two goals ahead, their second coming from a controversial spot kick. Goalkeeper Charlie Walker was adjudged to have committed a foul when he came out to collect the ball. Joe Wright converted the penalty.

Walker denied Wright from open play twice in the opening stages of the second half while George Baker-Moran headed wide for the Gills. The home goalkeeper also denied Scanlon from claiming a second.

But Dale did get a third, scored 11 minutes from time, Ethan Pye converting a Louie D’Souza set-piece.

Substitute Ronald Sithole looked odds-on to get a goal back for the Gills late on but a sliding challenge from Morgan Kinsella denied him.

Gillingham: Walker, Lintott, Baker, Nelson, Akehurst, Gale (Grode 46mins), Medhurst, Maher, Chambers, Smith (R Sithole 72mins), Baker-Moran. Subs not used: Crump, Moore, Giles.

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