Baggies Checkatrade trophy campaign ends in defeat
ALBION's Checkatrade Trophy campaign ended in defeat after they were beaten by a strong Gillingham side at The Hawthorns on Tuesday evening.
Kane Wilson played 90 minutes as goals from Darren Oldaker and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas gave the Gills all three points.
Gillingham started the game well and former Arsenal man Emmanuel-Thomas forced Alex Palmer into two early saves.
Rekeem Harper went closest for the Baggies in the first period but he couldn't quite lift the ball over Nelson in the Gills goal after finding himself clear.
It was Oldaker who broke the deadlock with a stunning strike, bending the ball past Palmer from 25 yards.
And there was a sucker punch for Albion early in the second half as Rahis Nabi brought down Billy Knott in the penalty area, with Emmanuel-Thomas making no mistake from the spot.
The Baggies midfielder came agonisingly close to making amends, but Nelson tipped his driven free-kick round the post.
Alex Bradley looked lively for Albion and he saw an effort fizz just wide in the final throws.
A real positive from the game was an appearance for 15-year-old Jamie Soule who came on for the last five minutes.
But the Baggies couldn't quite find the goal that some of their build-up play deserved and they exit the competition.
ALBION: Palmer, Wilson, Fitzwater (c), Donnellan, McCourt, Sweeney, Harper, R Nabi, Elbouzedi (Pritchatt 71), Bradley (Soule 85), Forss (Pierce 60).
SUBS: Rose, Piggott, Dool, Meredith.
Gillingham: Nelson, Cargill (Dickinson 61), Pask, Garmston (Jackson 45, Cundle 75), Oshilaja, Knott, Oldaker, Donnelly, Emmanuel-Thomas, Byrne, Osadebe.
Subs: Hadler, Wright, Hessenthaler, McDonald.
Referee: Nigel Miller.