Gillingham were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday night.
Visitors Sunderland ended Gills’ participation in the competition at the fourth round stage with a 3-0 victory at Priestfield.
The two teams were unable to play last week because of freezing temperatures but on a blustery evening took to the field.
Sunderland – with category one status and a youth team accustomed to playing top-ranked teams – were favourites to progress and meet Swindon Town in the next round.
Swindon had pulled off a shock result themselves by beating Manchester United in the last round.
But the Gills were unable to produce a giant-killing of their own and found themselves a goal down after 18 minutes after Kailem Beattie struck from the edge of the box.
Kai Garrett went close to equalising after beating the keeper but couldn’t convert from a difficult angle.
Jimmy Heasman shot narrowly over after the break for the Gills shortly before Sunderland added a second on 58 minutes through Belgian under-18 forward Trey Ogunsuyi.
A third goal came from Ogunsuyi -who had also been denied by the woodwork – with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
