Barnet manager, Lawrie Sanchez made two change from the side that lost to Northampton at the weekend with Liam O’Brien making his first start of the season in goal in place of Dean Brill and Mark Byrne coming into the side in central midfield and Mark Hughes moving to right back in place of the injured Jordan Parkes.
The game started badly when Gillingham took the lead after just five minutes through Garry Richards who scored from close range. However, the Bees were level on 11 minutes when Clovis Kamdjo, again playing in midfield, was fouled in the penalty area by Gills’ Andy Frampton. Izale MCLEOD put the Bees level from the resulting spot kick for his 9th goal of the season.
HT: Gills 1 Bees 1
With the prospect of the match going to penalties if the scores were level after 90 minutes, it was Barnet who took the lead on 72 minutes with Mark MARSHALL scoring his first goal of the season after he rounded Chris Whelpdale and slotted the ball home into the corner of the net to put the Bees ahead.
Four minutes later, the Bees had a fantastic opportunity to put the match largely to bed when Paulo Gazzaniga fouled McLeod in the penalty area but the Bees’ leading scorer missed from the resulting spot kick.
However, 7 minutes from the end MCLEOD made amends for his penalty miss by scoring his second and Barnet’s third after good work by Kamdjo. McLeod’s goal was his 10th of the season.
Barnet hung on comfortably to reach the area quarter finals of the Football League Trophy for the first time since 2001/02. Next up, back to league action on Saturday at Shrewsbury Town.
FT: Gills 1 Bees 3
Barnet: O’Brien; Hughes, Leach, Uddin, Borrowdale; Kamdjo, Byrne, Deering (Vilhete 90),Marshall; Taylor (Owusu 85), McLeod (Kabba 85).
Subs not used: O’Brien, Cox.
Att: 1278