The ball was switched out wide to Rooney, who twisted and turned to try and get past Lockwood, eventually contriving space to fire in a low shot that Cousins got down sharply to save.

At the other end, Fox broke into space through the middle of the park and just as he looked like he might wind up his shooting foot for a strike at goal, he instead opted to pass out wide and his cross field ball was intercepted.

With eleven minutes gone, McCammon was slotted in on goal and as Cousins went to collect the ball, the striker went in full blooded to try and win it first. His tackle annoyed Heath, who remonstrated with the big forward as the keeper got back to his feet.

The big forward did better a minute or so later as he knocked the ball into Rooney's path and, as three U's bodies converged on the Gills man, he went to ground - but the referee deemed that Okuonghae had got the ball first.

Twenty minutes into the half, Vincent showed his trickery down the right to beat his fullback and send over a dangerous cross, and it required an acrobatic clearance from Gowling to get the ball away with Vernon lingering.

From the resultant set piece, the U's claimed for a handball against Barcham, but as with the appeal at the other end, the referee showed little or no interest in the decision.

Izzet was replaced with a lower back injury midway through the first half, with young midfielder Wordsworth coming on in his place.

The substitute made an almost instant impression, stepping up to the free kick won by the departing Izzet to curl a shot towards the far corner of the goal, and Julian did well with a great save to hold onto the ball with a full length dive.

Miller then had to receive treatment after a foul by Platt, but the first player to go into the book was Wordsworth six minutes after his introduction for a foul on Richards as the two contested the ball in the corner.

But it was down that same flank that the U's almost had joy on 29 minutes. Vincent again getting the better of Palmer to send over a cross down the 'corridor of uncertainty', with Vernon only inches from connecting.

The U's had the upper hand, but the home side were next to go close as Barcham picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and drilled in a shot that was well blocked, but had Cousins watching as it went past his post.

From the resultant corner, Miller was the quickest to react and he flashed a header narrowly over the crossbar.

The home side had another set piece, but this time White was caught late by Rooney as he went to clear the ball and the Gills winger found his way into the book just as Wordsworth had done before.

Lockwood then burst forward from his full back position to smash a shot just wide of the target, although Platt in the middle was keen to see the ball come in his direction as the Gills defence attempted to set themselves.

Four minutes before the break, Jackman swerved in a free kick from distance and, as it eluded everyone on the way, Cousins had to be sharp on his toes to flick the ball away with a fine reaction save.

The Gills had the first chance of the second half, but a good block from Heath ensured that Barcham's shot didn't cause too much trouble.

At the other end, with 53 minutes gone, Wordsworth smacked in a low shot from just outside the box, which Vernon tried to divert towards goal, with Julian collecting safely.

Chances were not as forthcoming as they had been in the first half, but Palmer should have perhaps done better as the hour mark approached when the ball was dropped back into his path by Barcham.

Wordsworth was stroking the ball around beautifully in the heart of midfield, as the U's sought that elusive first goal of the game.

The U's were looking solid, but persistence from Barcham eventually saw the ball wrestled past White and McCammon toe poked a shot towards goal on 66 minutes that Cousins fielded safely.

Platt could feel unfortunate that his reverse pass to Vernon didn't meet its target with twenty minutes to go, but it seemed he might have got closer when Perkins sent across a low centre two minutes later.

The game was starting to open up though and the back tracking White conceded a penalty when he tripped Barcham as he made his way into the penalty area.

Substitute Jackson was the man given the responsibility of taking the spot kick and he made no mistake as he sent Cousins the wrong way to open the scoring.

The U's made an instant change, introducing Thomas for Vincent for the final fourteen minutes of the game.

And they almost had an instant riposte. A well crafted move saw the ball go to Lockwood on the left hand side and he sent over a cross to which Vernon made a good connection, Julian saving the effort with a full length save.

But the keeper could only parry a reaction save from Vernon's next headed effort from a fine Wordsworth cross, and Platt was on hand to equalise with six minutes to go.

And they almost made it 2-1 two minutes later. A clever free kick was thrust into the box and Heath met it at the far post, only to watch his effort across goal drop agonisingly wide of the far post.

Chances were coming at a rapid rate of knots as the two teams sought to avoid penalties.

Weston burst in on goal and, drawing Cousins off his line, opened up his body to sidefoot an effort wide of the far post.

And, right at the death, former U's man Richards had a chance to make himself a hero, but his outstretched boot only just missed the ball at the far post.

PENALTIES
Vernon - Scored
Jackson - Scored
Wordsworth - Scored
Miller - Missed
Fox - Missed
Palmer - Scored
Lockwood - Scored
Weston - Scored
Perkins - Missed
McCammon - Scored

Gills win 4-3 on penalties.