Bristol City will play Walsall in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after securing a 5-3 aggregate triumph over Gillingham.
Leading 4-2 from the first leg, Bristol took the lead when Matt Smith headed in his fifth goal of the tie, but Jermaine McGlashan struck before half time to keep Gillingham's hopes alive.
The visitors started the second half strongly, but after keeping their opponents at bay, the home side enjoyed the final quarter of the match before sealing their place at Wembley.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at Ashton Gate.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the second leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area final between Bristol City and Gillingham.
If this tie was being played in the first round of the competition, you'd most likely see two teams half-full of fringe players but five months on since the start of the competition, it's a completely different story. With Wembley in sight, both Bristol City and Gillingham will go hell for leather for 90 minutes as they try to earn an appearance at the national stadium.
After Bristol City's 4-2 victory earlier this month, they are in full control of the tie and it would be a major surprise if Gillingham were overturn a two-goal deficit, but stranger things have happened in cup competitions - you only have to look at last weekend's FA Cup action for proof of that! Full details of the two teams are coming right up.
BRISTOL CITY XI: Fielding, Tavernier, Cunningham, Ayling, Flint, Williams, K.Smith, Pack, Freeman, M.Smith, Emmanuel-Thomas
BRISTOL CITY SUBSTITUTES: Richards, Bryan, Wagstaff, Elliott, Agard
Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill has made a number of changes to his starting lineup for tonight's contest. Mark Little, Joe Bryan and George Saville has all made their way out of the side, with Marlon Pack, Greg Cunningham and James Tavernier all being introduced to the team.
GILLINGHAM XI: Nelson, Hoyte, Egan, Ehmer, Martin, Loft, Hessenthaler, Dack, Pritchard, McGlashan, McDonald
GILLINGHAM SUBSTITUTES: Garmston, Legge, Morris, Norris, Dickenson
The big plus for Gillingham this evening is the return of defender Joe Martin, who has recently been absent with calf trouble, but the Kent-based club are without John Marquis, who has already featured in this competition.
PREDICTION! The final outcome of this match could hinge on who makes the better start at Ashton Gate. Gillingham need to begin well as they look to overturn a deficit, but if they fall further goals behind, that could be it for any ambitions that they have to get to Wembley. We are predicting a tense opening, but as the match progresses, we expect Bristol City to run out clear winners. 2-0 to the home side.
If you missed Tuesday's result, Walsall have already secured their place in the final after a goalless draw against Preston North End ensured that they won 2-0 on aggregate. The final is an historic occasion for the club as they have never played at Wembley Stadium in their 127-year history!
The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch to a vocal reception from the crowd. It has to be said that the Brisol City players look less tense than their opponents, who know they have to pull off a minor miracle tonight.
We are underway.
CHANCE! We are just three minutes into this match but that could have effectively been that. A Bristol City throw in caused confusion in the Gillingham area, and after the ball was flicked on to Matt Smith, the striker saw a header well tipped away by Stuart Nelson.
After netting four goals in the first leg, Smith is understandably confident in and around the box, but on this occasion, after he twisted and turned from 14 yards out, his volley cleared the crossbar by some distance.
Bristol City look a class above their opponents and really should be 1-0 in front. The ball is played through to Luke Freeman, who accelerates from the Gillingham defence. However, when he opts to pass to a teammate, it had far too much pace on it and the chance was lost.
Gillingham are finally able to put a move together but after Josh Pritchard does well to beat his marker, he drifts his cross straight into the hands of Frank Fielding. The visitors need to make more of chances like that.
Most of Bristol City's joy is coming down the left-hand side. Jay Emmanuuel-Thomas and Luke Freeman are proving to be a handful for the Gillingham defence and sooner rather than later, you fancy them to at least create a clear opportunity for their side to edge in front.
Matt Smith is also a frequent threat, and he just showed why he adds more to this team than just goals. A floated ball finds the on-loan Fulham man, who nodded the ball into the path of James Tavernier but Stuart Nelson just did enough to beat the wing-back to the ball.
GOAL! Bristol City 1-0 Gillingham (Matt Smith)
That could be the goal that confirms Bristol City's place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final. A corner from the left was met by Matt Smith, and although his first attempt struck the crossbar, he was on hand to nod the rebound into the corner from eight yards. It's a long way back for Gillingham now.
Gillingham need an instant response but it isn't going to come from Bradley Dack, who blazes the ball onto the building site behind the goal from 35 yards.
There's so much space down the flanks for Bristol City to target. Matt Smith outfoxes the defender before drilling the ball across the six-yard box for Greg Cunningham, but the wing-back scuffs his attempted pull-back and Gillingham are able to clear. They are living very dangerously though!
Despite seeing their side go ahead, there is practically no noise coming from the Bristol City crowd. It's the kind of atmosphere that you would associate with a pre-season friendly. Maybe they are saving their voices for the probable celebrations later in the evening...
We are half-hour through this match now and it's as one-sided as the scoreline (the aggregate scoreline) suggests. Bristol City goalkeeper Frank Fielding has hardly touched the ball, never mind been forced into any kind of save.
GOAL! Bristol City 1-1 Gillingham (McGlashan)
Gillingham fans, you can thank me later for speaking too soon! Out of nowhere, a pass is played through to Jermaine McGlashan, who nicked in front of the defender before sliding in to flick the ball over Frank Fielding. Game on.
All of a sudden, it's important for Bristol City to steady the ship. They have been by far and away the better side but if they concede another goal, their backs will be against the wall.
There's not a whole lot going on now. Both teams appear worried that they may get caught on the break by the other. There hasn't been much from the Bristol City front two during the past 10 minutes.
SAVE! Gillingham come so close to making it 2-1! Joe Martin makes plenty of ground down the left-hand side before pulling the ball back to Doug Loft. The skipper is all on his own as he hits a first-time shot towards the top corner from 12 yards but Frank Fielding pulls off a superb one-handed stop to deny the visitors.
As we near the end of the first half, Bristol City are dropping deeper and deeper and frustration is starting to get the better of them. Luke Freeman has just gone into the book for a shocking challenge on Gavin Hoyte. He's booked, but he's fortunate to avoid a sending off.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Bristol City 1-1 Gillingham
The referee blows the half-time whistle and we go into the break with this match still to be decided. It looked as though Bristol City were well on their way to confirming their place at Wembley but an equaliser from Gillingham means that they are still alive in this tie.
It's been a decent half of football with 14 chances being created between the two teams, with City having eight and Gillingham six. The visitors hold a slender advantage on the corner count, but it's the home side who are having the majority of the ball, 54% to 46%.
The decision from the referee to allow Luke Freeman was a controversial one. The lateness of the challenge from the midfielder wasn't intended, but it's a horrible tackle on Gavin Hoyte, who is fortunate not to suffer a serious injury after Freeman's studs caught him on the knee to upper thigh. It could have been a big turning point in this game.
We are back underway at Ashton Gate.
Like in the first half, both sides are taking their time to get into their stride. Bristol City look slightly more composed on the ball but Gillingham have plenty of pace about them if they want to up the tempo.
SAVE! Turns out that they wanted to up the tempo straight away! Cody McDonald leads a rapid break-away from the centre circle but playing in Jermaine McGlashan, but despite the shot being well-struck, the striker makes it too obvious where he wants to place the ball and Frank Fielding is on hand to punch the ball clear.
BOOKING! Luke Ayling is the second Bristol City man to go into the book. It's deserved too, after he hauled back Jermaine McGlashan after the forward's trickery had got the better of him on the left.
SHOT! Gillingham work the ball short and it soon finds it way to Josh Pritchard on the edge of the box. After composing himself, the midfielder attempting to curl the ball in Frank Fielding's top left-hand corner but it flew just wide of the post.
CHANCE! How has Matt Smith not scored? Greg Cunningham gets to the byline before driving a low ball towards Smith in the centre. However, just as it seemed that the forward was going to tap in from four yards, Joe Martin got across to divert the ball wide.
We have moved past the hour mark at Ashton Gate but we remain at 1-1. Time is running out for the visitors but as we have already seen, one goal can change the momentum of this match, but if there is a next goal, it must come from Gillingham.
Bristol City enjoy a sustained spell of possession in the Gillingham final third, but when the cross finally comes in for Matt Smith, he glances a header just wide after beating Stuart Nelson to the ball. That was a chance!
SAVE! Stuart Nelson keeps Gillingham in this tie. After a wonderful cross from James Tavernier, Greg Cunningham arrowed a header towards the bottom corner, only to see Nelson pull off a terrific finger-tip save.
SUBSTITUTION! Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill makes his first alteration of the evening, bringing on the experienced Wade Elliott in place of James Tavernier.
Gillingham are still managing to get the ball into the box but the Bristol City backline are beginning to dominate the two strikers. Jermaine McGlashan remains a threat though and he's probably the Gills' best hope of getting a second goal.
SHOT! Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been excellent for Bristol City tonight and he almost nets a stunning goal to earn his team a place in the final. After coming through a couple of meaty challenges, he advanced towards the edge of the penalty area before drilling the ball a couple of yards over the crossbar.
WOODWORK! It's Emmanuel-Thomas once again, but this time, he goes much closer, striking the post with his weaker right foot after forcing the defenders onto the back foot. The home side are looking strong now.
SUBSTITUTION! Well this is a surprise. Jermaine McGlashan has been withdrawn by the Gills, even though he has been their best player by a mile! Luke Norris has come on in his place.
SHOT! Jay Emmanuel-Thomas looks like he is going to score every time that he receives the ball into the penalty area, and he very nearly does that with five minutes to go. After the ball was played into his feet, he opted to shoot from an acute angle, but with Stuart Nelson beaten, the ball flew past the far post.
Gillingham win a free kick after a rather harsh handball decision giving against Luke Ayling. They need to find a goal here, but Bristol City are able to clear for a corner. The resulting set piece ends up being over-hit, and that is probably that.
There will be six minutes of added-on time. SIX!
Gillingham are continuing to throw the ball forward but they aren't creating anything around the penalty area. The Bristol City supporters are readying themselves to celebrate.
SHOT! Jay Emmanuel-Thomas almost caps off the night with a low effort from 20 yards but Stuart Nelson does well to make the save. The Gillingham stopper has played well this evening.
FULL TIME: Bristol City 1-1 Gillingham
The full-time whistle goes at Ashton Gate and Bristol City have sealed their place in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a 1-1 draw against Gillingham to confirm an aggregate success of 5-3. Gillingham had their moments tonight but Matt Smith's five goals over the two legs have proven decisive.
Bristol City will now play Walsall at Wembley Stadium on March 22. You will be able to catch that game with us at Sports Mole.
That will be all for this evening. Many thanks for joining us. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
