Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Gillingham 0
By Tim Hodges at the Amex Stadium , at Falmer in Brighton
The Albion cruised past League 2 Gillingham with minimum fuss on Tuesday evening in front of their biggest evening attendance in almost 20 years, in the first round of the Carling Cup.
Saturdays hero Will Buckley and his assist partner Craig Noone both started as did Romain Vincelot
In place of Scottish International Craig Mackail- Smith, Kezenga Lua Lua and Matt Sparrow.
Albion adopted their passing and possession game early on.
Buckley operating on the right was getting a fair few crosses in , one of which Noone sent just wide of the goal.
Barnes had a good chance that he pulled wide on the half hour from a Painter cross , then Noone ran at the Gills defence who backed off especially the languid looking Lawrence, but the Albion mans shot came to nothing.
At the other end Lee and especially Kedwell had chances to put Gillingham in front as the visitors looked to counter attack the Albion.
All square at half, the Albion immediately looked to dominate early in the second half.
Buckley, played in by Dicker saw his shot parried into the side netting by former Seagull Ross Flitney.
Noone taking on both Lawrence and Frampton for fun, then forced Flitney into another save soon after.
Gillingham were seemingly unable to cope with Albion’s tricky wide men, and just past the hour mark, Buckley again teased the full back, who clattered into him for the Seagulls first Amex penalty.
This was cooly despatched by Ashley Barnes for 1-0
Noone and Dicker both went close soon after. Ankergren was largely a spectator, until on around 75 minutes when Gills substitute Payne, committed an awful foul on Vincelot right in front of the dugouts, in the melee that ensued both Ankergren who had raced out of his goal to remonstrate and Painter were booked.
Gillingham made some movement towards the Albion penalty area late on, but the result was never really in doubt.
The Albion will be hoping for a big gun at The Amex in the next round.
Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Painter; Bridcutt, Vincelot, Dicker, Noone; Buckley, Barnes. Subs: Brezovan, Navarro, Sparrow, Agdestein, Taricco, Cook, Bergkamp.
Gillingham: Flitney; Fuller, Lawrence, Frampton, Martin; J.Payne; Whelpdale, Montrose, Lee, Spiller; Kedwell. Subs: Gazzaniga, King, Richards, Weston, Fish, Rance, S.Payne
Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire)
