First-team manager Mark Bonner has praised Gillingham’s youngsters following their FA Youth Cup win earlier this week.

The young Gills beat Charlton 4-3 at Priestfield in extra-time on Monday night, securing their spot in the second-round draw which is due to be made today (Friday).

“It was really good,” said Bonner. “Charlton are an excellent academy, have a brilliant record of producing players and excellent staff that some of our guys know really well.

“A victory against them was a big one, the boys played well and the team ethic was very good. They had to work their socks off.

“We really enjoyed it, a few of the boys were here and all of the first-team staff were here. We’ll now look forward to the draw to see who we get next.

“It was a great way for Mark Moss to go out as well, a brilliant night for him. I was really pleased for the lads, we stuck around and told them that afterwards.

“We saw them the next morning as they came in for college and they looked knackered! But they deserved to be as they worked really hard.”

Bonner is hoping the Gills get a favourable draw.

“Whether that’s a home game and we can get more people here to support it or an away game and they get to play in a brilliant stadium and they’d never get to do that,” said Bonner.

“Hopefully the draw is kind to them and gives them a really good experience again. That is the highlight for youth players, that competition can be really good for them and it was a nice night for them to remember.”