Ethan Coleman scored his first Gillingham goal on Tuesday night but was denied the chance of a second.
Coleman headed in Max Clark’s corner to take the Carabao Cup tie against Wimbledon to penalties after the match at Priestfield ended 1-1.
In the shootout, the Gills were 3-2 behind after three penalties each and when Josh Andrews had his penalty saved, Wimbledon just needed to score their fourth.
When Jake Turner saved from Alistair Smith’s tame effort, the Gills thought they were back in the hunt.
Coleman was striding towards the penalty spot to take the fifth spot-kick before referee Neil Hair ordered a retake, signalling that Turner had come off his line before Smith had taken his kick.
Smith didn’t mess up the second time around and converted to book Wimbledon’s place in round two.
For Coleman, he’s hoping the midweek goal won’t be the last. His previous senior goal was a 90th minute effort for Leyton Orient three and a half years earlier.
“It was very pleasing to score,” said the defensive midfielder.
“It was my first Gillingham goal, finally. It took too long, to be honest.
“Hopefully, now I’ve got one, I can go on a little roll and go from there.
“It is a great feeling to score a goal in front of a crowd and you just don’t really know what to do with yourself sometimes.
“I used to score a few goals when I was coming up in the youth, just chipping in. It’s one of those things that I know I can do. I just need to show it a bit more.
“I feel like I’ve had chances before and it just hasn’t fallen for me.”
Coleman was an unused sub in the season opener against Accrington and came off the bench last weekend against Walsall before his start against Wimbledon.
He knows he faces a battle for a starting role but is happy to support those ahead of him if he doesn’t get picked.
He said: “As a player, you’ve just got to sit back and be a cheerleader for the boys who are playing at the time and when you come on and you get your chance, then you can really try and put your foot down.
“If you start a game like in the cup, or if you come on as a sub, then that’s what you’ve got to do.
“As much as you don’t want to be sat on the bench as a player, you really don’t. You’ve just got to show what you can do when you get the chance.”
