Gillingham were beaten on their travels in the EFL Trophy.

A fine strike from Armando Dobra put hosts Ipswich ahead in the second half and Ben Folami doubled the lead from close range.

Both managers shuffled their teams for a match that neither were too bothered about. Gills boss Steve Evans had said in the build-up he had no interest in the Trophy and counterpart Paul Lambert said it was mental the competition was even going ahead this season.

Evans made nine changes, leaving only Jack Tucker nad Zech Medley the the team from the weekend. It was a chance for those others playing to show they were worthy of a start in the league.

The Gillingham manager had said he might play some youth players, having fielded a few in a practice game last week against Peterborough, but opted not to in the end.

There weren’t too many clear-cut chances in the opening half with stand-in skipper Alex MacDonald having the best of them.

Early on a tame effort from Ipswich winger Ben Folami and a strike with more conviction from Gillingham midfielder Matty Willock ensured both keepers were alert.

MacDonald brought out an even better stop from home keeper David Cornell, the keeper at full stretch to deny him from bending a shot into the far corner, having been found in space by Willock.

There was plenty of commitment from both teams but there was little goalmouth action. John Akinde was played in but had a shot blocked and Dobra missed the target when trying to catch Gills’ young keeper off his line.

With time almost up in the half there were chances at both ends. Folami should have done better with a chance from an angle, the ball falling into his path after team-matev Jack Lankester was unable to control the cross. The finish went wide of the far post. At the other end McKenzie had a half chance in a crowded box. His shot was stopped by the keeper but there were also several covering defenders.

Dobra showed what he could do on 57 minutes, opening the scoring with a fine strike from the edge of the box, clipping the underside of the bar as his shot went in.

The goalscorer had already seen both Christian Maghoma and John Akinde commit fouls on him that saw them go into the referee’s notebook.

Chances for the Gills were thin on the ground. Half-time substitute Dominic Samuel's header wasn't troubling the home keeper.

Ipswich made it 2-0 on 75 minutes. Folami slid onto a cross after Liam Gibbs had won the ball off Jack Tucker before finding his team-mate.

Gillingham had chances from free-kicks in the latter stages but Coyle's effort lacked pace and Josh Eccles the precision. The game drifted to the final whistle, both teams now boasting a win and a defeat apiece.

Ipswich Town: Cornell, Woolfenden, Donacien, Lankester (Viral 90mins), Ndaba, Dobra (Crane 82mins), McGavin, Folami, Baggott, Simpson, Gibbs (Siziba 90mins). Subs not used: Holy, Crowe, Smith, Brown.

Gillingham: Walsh, McKenzie, Medley Tucker, Maghoma, Woods, Willock (Samuel 45mins), Drysdale, Coyle, MacDonald (Eccles 71mins), Akinde. Subs not used: Bonham, Jackson, Ogilvie, Graham, Oliver.

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