Two first-half goals were just enough to put Gillingham through to the second round of the Carling Cup as they withstood a fightback from Plymouth.
Simeon Jackson put the hosts ahead with a low shot into the bottom right corner and Andy Barcham's close-range header made it 2-0 just before the break.
Plymouth reduced the deficit soon after the interval when Luke Summerfield scored direct from a free-kick.
Jamie Mackie should have forced extra-time but shot wide when clean through.
It means Paul Sturrock's miserable run in the League Cup goes on: the Plymouth boss has won one of his nine matches in the competition as a manager.
"I must have the worst record of all managers in cup competitions, it's unbelievable," he said.
"One or two of my defenders didn't defend properly tonight. It's not proper to name people but there were some glaring attempts to clear the ball and that's where we had problems.
"We tried to change our whole philosophy of football. We concentrated on passing the football in pre-season and the one key factor for us is that we have forgotten how to defend."
Barcham and Curtis Weston combined well to set up Jackson for his fourth goal in two matches three minutes before half-time.
Plymouth were still recovering when moments later Barcham headed home debutant Chris Palmer's corner-kick at the far post.
Summerfield pulled one back shortly after the interval with a low free-kick and Mackie should have made it 2-2 but pulled his shot wide.
Gillingham manager Mark Stimson told BBC Radio Kent:
"When we got the team sheet they brought a very strong squad and wanted to get through to the next round.
"But full credit to our team and the supporters see that and their appreciation at the end with the singing and chanting was a really nice experience."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Carling Cup
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Gillingham
2-1
Plymouth
FT
(HT 2-0)
Jackson 42
Barcham 45
Summerfield 49
Gillingham
01 Royce
03 Nutter
06 Richards yellow card
16 Gowling
02 Fuller
07 Maher (McCammon 72)
09 Palmer (Rooney 79)
14 Miller
26 Weston
10 Jackson
11 Barcham
Substitutes
23 Julian,
22 Wynter,
24 Yussuff,
27 Rooney,
28 Payne,
19 Erskine,
30 McCammon
Plymouth
01 Larrieu
16 McNamee
18 Sawyer yellow card
19 Seip yellow card
02 Duguid
03 Paterson
08 Mackie yellow card
20 Summerfield (Barnes 80)
25 Judge (Clark 73)
09 MacLean (Noone 72)
14 Fallon yellow card
Substitutes
23 Letheren,
17 Noone,
06 Clark,
11 Kari Arnason,
29 McCrory,
24 Barnes,
32 Mason
Ref: SinghAtt: 3,306
GILLINGHAM
PLYMOUTH
Possession
Gillingham66%
Plymouth34%
Attempts on target
Gillingham3
Plymouth5
Attempts off target
Gillingham2
Plymouth10
Corners
Gillingham8
Plymouth9
Fouls
Gillingham3
Plymouth8
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:03 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+2:47 Unfair challenge on Simon Royce by Rory Fallon results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Simon Royce.
90:00+2:24 The official flags Simeon Jackson offside. Free kick taken by Marcel Seip.
90:00+1:05 Free kick taken by Garry Richards. Jamie Mackie has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
90:00+1:05 Booking Rory Fallon receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+0:43 Foul by Rory Fallon on Barry Fuller, free kick awarded.
89:06 Corner taken by Chris Clark from the left by-line, Craig Noone produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.
84:07 Mark McCammon takes a shot. Save made by Romain Larrieu. Corner from the left by-line taken by Curtis Weston, clearance made by Gary Sawyer.
82:07 Rory Fallon is penalised for a handball. Simon Royce takes the free kick.
81:46 The assistant referee flags for offside against Simeon Jackson. Romain Larrieu takes the free kick.
81:08 Karl Duguid takes a shot. Comfortable save by Simon Royce.
79:30 Substitution (Plymouth) makes a substitution, with Ashley Barnes coming on for Luke Summerfield.
77:46 Simon Royce restarts play with the free kick.
77:46 Substitution Luke Rooney joins the action as a substitute, replacing Chris Palmer.
77:46 Corner taken by Craig Noone, Simon Royce fouled by Jamie Mackie, the ref awards a free kick.
75:12 Jamie Mackie takes a shot. Barry Fuller gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Craig Noone, Unfair challenge on Simon Royce by Jamie Mackie results in a free kick. Simon Royce restarts play with the free kick.
74:01 Craig Noone produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.
71:28 Substitution Chris Clark replaces Alan Judge.
71:28 Substitution Mark McCammon replaces Kevin Maher.
71:28 Substitution Craig Noone replaces Steven MacLean.
70:49 Direct free kick taken by Josh Gowling.
70:49 Booking Marcel Seip is shown a yellow card.
70:22 Marcel Seip gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Miller.
66:01 Free kick crossed left-footed by Chris Palmer from left wing.
66:01 Booking Gary Sawyer goes into the book.
65:17 Unfair challenge on Simeon Jackson by Gary Sawyer results in a free kick.
62:52 Karl Duguid has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.
61:31 Direct free kick taken by Simon Royce.
61:31 Booking Caution for Jamie Mackie.
60:53 Jamie Mackie challenges Barry Fuller unfairly and gives away a free kick.
59:01 The free kick is swung in right-footed by Luke Summerfield, save by Simon Royce.
59:01 Booking Garry Richards is given a yellow card.
57:46 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Luke Summerfield, clearance by Adam Miller. Garry Richards gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Mackie.
50:03 Inswinging corner taken by Chris Palmer from the left by-line, James Paterson manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Chris Palmer from the left by-line, save made by Romain Larrieu.
48:49 GOAL - Luke Summerfield:Gillingham 2 - 1 Plymouth Luke Summerfield grabs a goal direct from the free kick from outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Gillingham 2-1 Plymouth.
47:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Garry Richards on Steven MacLean.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+1:09 The match has reached half-time.
44:47 The assist for the goal came from Chris Palmer.
44:47 GOAL - Andy Barcham:Gillingham 2 - 0 Plymouth Andy Barcham scores a headed goal from close in. Gillingham 2-0 Plymouth.
44:05 Corner taken by Chris Palmer from the right by-line,
41:52 Assist on the goal came from Curtis Weston.
41:52 GOAL - Simeon Jackson:Gillingham 1 - 0 Plymouth Simeon Jackson fires in a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Gillingham 1-0 Plymouth.
41:01 Corner taken left-footed by Chris Palmer from the right by-line, David McNamee makes a clearance.
39:48 Shot from just outside the area by Alan Judge goes over the bar.
38:21 James Paterson takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Rory Fallon misses to the left of the goal.
35:27 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Palmer from the left by-line, save made by Romain Larrieu.
33:46 Steven MacLean takes a shot. Save made by Simon Royce. Corner taken by James Paterson.
30:41 Effort on goal by Rory Fallon from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
28:36 The referee blows for offside. Simon Royce takes the indirect free kick.
27:28 Alan Judge takes a shot. Save made by Simon Royce.
25:14 The referee blows for offside. Romain Larrieu restarts play with the free kick.
22:53 Effort from outside the penalty area by Simeon Jackson goes wide left of the goal.
21:59 Luke Summerfield takes a short corner.
19:19 Jamie Mackie takes a shot. Save made by Simon Royce.
15:31 Corner taken right-footed by Luke Summerfield, Gary Sawyer produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
14:17 Corner taken by Chris Palmer, Gary Sawyer manages to make a clearance.
11:40 Curtis Weston produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
8:53 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Chris Palmer.
7:58 Corner taken by Alan Judge from the left by-line.
5:20 Unfair challenge on Marcel Seip by Barry Fuller results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Romain Larrieu.
4:35 Karl Duguid concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Palmer. Free kick crossed left-footed by Chris Palmer.
2:52 Effort from inside the area by Alan Judge misses to the left of the goal.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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