[ 7 Oct 25 ] Colchester v GILLS Match Thread (EFLT Grp G2)

[Garawa]

- The Gills have won 4 of their last 10 meetings against Colchester with all 4 coming in their away games at Colchester - 2 of which were in this competition. Colchester are the only home side to win over the last 10 meetings (1 game).
- Colchester ended a sequence of 7 league games without a win by beating Chesterfield 6-2 at the weekend, their first home win in 7 games. Both sides won their opening fixture in this competition - the Gills 4-1 against Fulham U21s and Colchester 2-1 at Wycombe.
- Since the introduction of the group phase of this competition, the Gills are facing Colchester for fifth time in the 10 seasons. The previous 4 meetings against Colchester saw 2 away wins, a home defeat and a home draw (with the Gills winning the penalty shootout).
- Excluding a penalty shootout win at Stevenage last season after the game ended 1-1, the Gills are looking for their first away win in this competition since beating Colchester in 2021. They have been winless in the 3 since and have won 1 and lost 5 of their last 7 on the road.

[Tue 7th October 2025] EFL Bristol Street Motors Trophy - Southern Section Group G, Match 2: Colchester United v Gillingham FC
Opposition Manager: Danny Cowley Matchday Team: Tom Smith, Rob Hunt, Joshua Powell, Jack Payne (Arthur Read), [c] Jack Tucker (Harvey Araujo), Sam Kuffour, John-Kymani Gordon (Kyreece Lisbie), Ronnie Harvey, Samson Tovide (Micah Mbick), Jaden Williams, Owura Edwards (Harry Anderson)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (19th)
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 1,467 (132)

(19.45) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 ]
(19.56) Logan Dobbs gives the ball away with Turner out of position on the edge of his box. The ball towards the empty net is put behind at the near post for a corner which is headed over from a very good position.
(19.58) Max Clark, from some distance away from goal, volleys a hard shot off the bottom of the right hand post.
(20.00) GOAL! Colchester United 0-1 Gillingham: Vokes
(20.08) The Gills press with a series of challenges to break down a quick Colchester counter. The clearance falls perfectly for Vokes who slots under the advancing 'keeper but across the face of the goal and wide.
(20.10) Kuffour flashes a long range effort narrowly wide of the goal.
(20.13) A horizontal ball finds Tovide 3 yards from goal. Somehow he puts it wide!
(20.27) A long ball back to Turner thwarts an attack but Colchester press and catch Turner with the ball at his feet before losing balance. Turner doesn't get the ball away and is almost robbed a second time as he boots the ball out of the penalty area.
(20.30) A minimum of 2 minutes will be added to the half.
(20.32) Half time 0-1 [47:00]

(20.49) The second half kicks off.
(21.09) Lisbie, within seconds of coming on, sprints past the Gills defence and provides a brilliant cross which somehow intersects all Gills and Colchester players inside the box. Eventually the Gills clear but only as far as Williams who shoots just over the bar.
(21.12) Lisbie again makes space and forces Turner into getting down quick to turn the shot across goal and just wide of the post.
(21.16) Another great reaction save from Turner to get down one handed to parry away a shot from close range.
(21.28) A Gills free kick is headed across the 6 yards box. A Colchester defender goes to ground trying to intercept it and lies stricken on the line as Dobbs' follow up hits the post.
(21.29) GOAL! Colchester United 1-1 Gillingham: Mbick
(21.31) Red Card! Lenni Cirino receives a second yellow card for a late challenge.
(21.32) Lisbie floats a ball just over Turner and onto the roof of the net.
(21.34) A minimum of 5 additional minutes will be added.
(21.35) Penalty! Bridle trips a Colchester attacker on the edge of the box.
(21.36) GOAL! Colchester United 2-1 Gillingham: Read
(21.42) FULL TIME 2-1 [97:29]
Other group game - Wycombe Wanderers 3-1 Fulham U21s

Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cnvr91zn6gqt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z36H767B7g