Although fielding a young side, Gillingham had enough about them to win at Sevenoaks Town, who were much changed from their last match, in the second round of the Go Cardless Kent Senior Cup.

Marcel Nimani, Sevenoaks’ manager, knows that picking up league points to move away from their perilous position in the table has to be his priority. However, games against EFL Clubs’ fit and hungry under twenty-one players give the personnel that Non-League managers choose to select a chance to test themselves against a different style of opposition.

There is also plenty in it for Gillingham, and their manager, Joe Dunne, will have been pleased with the way that his team moved it around, and that they came away with the win.

Not surprisingly, the Gills had the greater share of possession but Sevenoaks were disciplined and held their shape, while causing problems with the occasional swift counter-attack. Louie Dayal whipped in a cross for the visitors that Michael Luxton couldn’t quite reach before they didn’t make the most of a free kick and almost paid for it when Aaron Jenkins broke away and unleashed a drive that rippled the top of the net.

Dayal hit a long range shot off target then Cruz Beszant’s attempt from wide struck the outside of the side netting. Jenkins again caused problems for Gillingham when bursting through and hitting an effort across the face of goal went the wrong side of the post before Nayan Graut, the Gills right back, used skill and tenacity to find Donte Augustus and his shot was blocked by the outstanding Sevenoaks central defender, Thomas Hanfrey.

Once again, Dayal was in the thick of the action and he thought that he had put the visitors ahead but the referee had already blown his whistle for a Gillingham foul in the build up then Warren-Hughes Mfula made space for a shot from the edge of the area but Tate Holtham made a comfortable save.

Five minutes before half time, the Gills went ahead when Tolu Jonah tried to clear but inadvertently handled and a penalty was awarded. Zac Whitelock stepped up and sent Jordan Perrin the wrong way from the spot. Dayal then shot over before the first half came to a close.

He continued to search for a goal of his own after the break and drew a good save out of Perrin before the Oaks gave away possession in a dangerous position and Whitelock’s effort was saved brilliantly by the Sevenoaks custodian.

Hanfrey delivered a free kick that was headed over by substitute Charlie Dickens before the visitors scored their crucial second. Sullivan Booth outpaced his marker before firing home inside the far post.

Booth fired in a low cross that Perrin could only palm out and Dayal looked to finish but he knew that it was not going to be his day when Hanfrey got across to make another excellent block. 

Deep into stoppage time the hosts had a half chance when Ryan Sawyer got on the end of a deep free kick but he could only glance his header the wrong side of the post.

Joe Dunne’s young Gills now have an away game at Tonbridge Angels to schedule which will be intriguing for Logan Dobbs, their captain, as he currently plays on loan at Longmead.

Sevenoaks Town: Perrin, Itauma, Sawyer, Hanfrey, Jonah (Dickens 46); Majekodunmi (Tickle 71), Howlett-Mundle; Jenkins, Duncanson, Bunclark (Agyemang-Arthur 51); Mfula (Vochyan 70).

Unused sub: Howard.

Goalscorers: None 

Yellow cards: None

Gillingham: Holtham; Graut, Dobbs, Webster (James 46), Erskine; Clark (Jones 87); Augustus (Booth 46), Luxton, Beszant; Dayal, Whitelock (Surrey 82).

Unused sub: Hegarty.

Goalscorers: Whitelock pen (40), Booth (51)

Yellow card: Luxton (44 foul)

Referee: Joshua Williams

Assistants: Michael Corderoy and Byron Beard

Attendance: 402