Northampton Town 1-2 Gillingham: Improved performance – and one defensive calamity – gives Gills away win at Sixfields

Gillingham scored early in both halves to defeat the Cobblers 2-1, with Lamin Sillah and Cameron Antwi finding the net in an away win that confirmed their place in the knockout stages of the competition.

The opening goal saw Sillah showcase his full array of talent as he took possession inside his own half, then turned on the jets as he surged down the right flank. His ball across the box found Garath McCleary, who flicked the ball wide to Ronan Hale, whose goal-bound effort was well saved by Ross Fitzsimons in the Northampton goal. However, Sillah had continued his run, and arrived with perfect timing to finish into the far corner.

The Gills continued to create chances, with both Nick Freeman and McCleary seeing efforts at goal, but they weren't able to add to their lead before the break. Then, when the second half got underway, some slack defending let the hosts into the game.

A cross-shot from the right flank somehow eluded everyone at the near post and former Gills striker Elliott List ghosted in past Freeman to finish from close range.

Despite that setback, the Gills players responded well and got back on the front foot as they pushed forward in search of a go-ahead goal. But when the goal eventually came, it was via a calamitous piece of defending from Northampton, who made a disastrous mess of a short goal-kick routine to gift the ball to Sillah in the heart of the penalty area. The Gambian striker unselfishly passed to substitute Antwi, who was in a better position, and the former Newport man finished with ease to put the Gills 2-1 in front.

Substitute Sheldon Kendall later hit the post with a good effort that almost beat Fitzsimons at his near post, while at the other end, Ollie Wright saved well to deny Max Dyche's low effort as the Gills saw out the remaining time and claimed a morale-boosting victory on the road.

Gillingham's win means they will head into the knockout stages of the competition, with the EFL Trophy offering a legitimate path to a Wembley final for the club if they can string a succession of positive results together.