Gillingham started their competitive season with a home defeat in the Carabao Cup on Saturday.
League 1 promotion-chaser Luton proved a class apart for Gareth Ainsworthâs men as they dominated the first-round tie from start to finish at Priestfield.
It looked a tough task for the Gills on paper, and so it proved as Jack Wilshereâs Luton were a well-polished machine that never gave the home side an opening.
There were five debutants for Gillingham but one man who missed out was Liam Gordon, who had a one-match suspension carried over from his time in Scotland at the end of last season.
Much of the talk centred on who would feature in goal, but there was little surprise when a loan keeper was announced just over an hour before kick-off. Owen Mason joined from Mansfield, having previously had loan spells with Southend and Gateshead, with back-up Taite Holtam on the bench.
Mason was involved in the action from the start, saving low down from Jake Richards as early as the second minute.
It needed good defensive work from Andy Smith to cover across and deny Nahki Wells after he got behind skipper Omar Beckles.
Luton had the ball in the net after seven minutes through captain Kai Naismith but Wellsâ obvious foul on Mason had already been spotted by referee Stephen Parkinson.
Luton were in danger of overpowering the Gills, who looked susceptible to the ball over the top. Jordan Clarkâs 20-yard shot was saved by Mason, who then produced an even better one-handed save to turn aside Clarkâs right-foot effort moments later.
At the other end, striker Seb Palmer-Houlden carried the ball forward but his long-range shot was blocked. New signing James Brophy looked lively - one through ball nearly set up Ronan Hale - but he lacked support around him and the Gills were often guilty of giving the ball away as quickly as they won it back.
The visitors got the goal their first-half display deserved two minutes before the break when Wells was played in behind Smith and expertly slotted beyond Mason from close range.
The second half followed the same pattern with Benedict Benagr looking dangerous down the left wing. He fired over after racing onto a ball over the top and then doubled Lutonâs lead on 59 minutes.
Luton took a quick free-kick, allowing Clark to play in Wells. Keeper Mason produced a fine stop but the ball fell perfectly for Benagr to react quickest and convert from close range.
Gillingham looked for a way back into the game and Kadeem Harris nearly provided an instant response but his low shot was kept out by the legs of keeper Josh Keeley.
The first half featured a drinks break in the hot weather but there was no need for one after the interval as a three-minute delay midway through the half for nine substitutions allowed those remaining on the pitch to take on fluids.
Wells shot over for Luton once play got back underway before Gills substitute Sully Booth set up Will Goodwin at the other end but he was unable to direct his effort towards goal.
A series of corners by Naismith tested Mason in the Gills goal as he punched clear once and then twice turned the ball over his own bar. The pressure paid off as Luton added a third goal on 79 minutes. Mason could only parry a fierce shot and substitute Gideon Kodua nodded in from close range.
Goodwin forced a save out of Keeley with five minutes left but the game had a pre-season feel about it in the closing stages. The Gills finished with 10 men after substitute Sheldon Kendall picked up an injury in added time.
It ended in a comprehensive defeat for the Gills, although they start their League 2 campaign next weekend safe in the knowledge that theyâll face few sides of this calibre again.
Gillingham: Mason, Smith, Harris (Kendall 67mins), Hale (Booth 67mins), Palmer-Houlden (Goodwin 67mins), McKenzie, Albarus (Waldock 67mins), Brophy, Beckles, Freeman, Dobbs (McManus 67mins). Subs not used: Holtam, Webster, Theodore, Luxton.
Luton: Keeley, Jones (Ashby 69mins), Odoffin, Johnston, Naismith, Clark, Walsh (Sandal 69mins), Luker (Palmer 48mins), Richards (Morris 69mins), Benagr (Kodua 69mins), Wells. Subs not used: Shea, Andersen, Johnson, Cole.
Referee: Stephen Parkinson.
League 1 promotion-chaser Luton proved a class apart for Gareth Ainsworthâs men as they dominated the first-round tie from start to finish at Priestfield.
It looked a tough task for the Gills on paper, and so it proved as Jack Wilshereâs Luton were a well-polished machine that never gave the home side an opening.
There were five debutants for Gillingham but one man who missed out was Liam Gordon, who had a one-match suspension carried over from his time in Scotland at the end of last season.
Much of the talk centred on who would feature in goal, but there was little surprise when a loan keeper was announced just over an hour before kick-off. Owen Mason joined from Mansfield, having previously had loan spells with Southend and Gateshead, with back-up Taite Holtam on the bench.
Mason was involved in the action from the start, saving low down from Jake Richards as early as the second minute.
It needed good defensive work from Andy Smith to cover across and deny Nahki Wells after he got behind skipper Omar Beckles.
Luton had the ball in the net after seven minutes through captain Kai Naismith but Wellsâ obvious foul on Mason had already been spotted by referee Stephen Parkinson.
Luton were in danger of overpowering the Gills, who looked susceptible to the ball over the top. Jordan Clarkâs 20-yard shot was saved by Mason, who then produced an even better one-handed save to turn aside Clarkâs right-foot effort moments later.
At the other end, striker Seb Palmer-Houlden carried the ball forward but his long-range shot was blocked. New signing James Brophy looked lively - one through ball nearly set up Ronan Hale - but he lacked support around him and the Gills were often guilty of giving the ball away as quickly as they won it back.
The visitors got the goal their first-half display deserved two minutes before the break when Wells was played in behind Smith and expertly slotted beyond Mason from close range.
The second half followed the same pattern with Benedict Benagr looking dangerous down the left wing. He fired over after racing onto a ball over the top and then doubled Lutonâs lead on 59 minutes.
Luton took a quick free-kick, allowing Clark to play in Wells. Keeper Mason produced a fine stop but the ball fell perfectly for Benagr to react quickest and convert from close range.
Gillingham looked for a way back into the game and Kadeem Harris nearly provided an instant response but his low shot was kept out by the legs of keeper Josh Keeley.
The first half featured a drinks break in the hot weather but there was no need for one after the interval as a three-minute delay midway through the half for nine substitutions allowed those remaining on the pitch to take on fluids.
Wells shot over for Luton once play got back underway before Gills substitute Sully Booth set up Will Goodwin at the other end but he was unable to direct his effort towards goal.
A series of corners by Naismith tested Mason in the Gills goal as he punched clear once and then twice turned the ball over his own bar. The pressure paid off as Luton added a third goal on 79 minutes. Mason could only parry a fierce shot and substitute Gideon Kodua nodded in from close range.
Goodwin forced a save out of Keeley with five minutes left but the game had a pre-season feel about it in the closing stages. The Gills finished with 10 men after substitute Sheldon Kendall picked up an injury in added time.
It ended in a comprehensive defeat for the Gills, although they start their League 2 campaign next weekend safe in the knowledge that theyâll face few sides of this calibre again.
Gillingham: Mason, Smith, Harris (Kendall 67mins), Hale (Booth 67mins), Palmer-Houlden (Goodwin 67mins), McKenzie, Albarus (Waldock 67mins), Brophy, Beckles, Freeman, Dobbs (McManus 67mins). Subs not used: Holtam, Webster, Theodore, Luxton.
Luton: Keeley, Jones (Ashby 69mins), Odoffin, Johnston, Naismith, Clark, Walsh (Sandal 69mins), Luker (Palmer 48mins), Richards (Morris 69mins), Benagr (Kodua 69mins), Wells. Subs not used: Shea, Andersen, Johnson, Cole.
Referee: Stephen Parkinson.
Related Coverage
- Carabao Cup: Gillingham 0-3 Luton Town â BBCFootball. Itâs back.
- BBCFootball. Itâs back. â Luton Town FCGaffer | "We are going to be up for this"
- Luton Town FCGaffer | "We are going to be up for this" â Gillingham Football Club
- Brilliant Benagr marks Town debut with a goal as Hatters ease past Gills â Luton Today
