LONDON, Jan 4: James Milner celebrated his 23rd birthday scoring both goals as Aston Villa beat League Two (fourth division) Gillingham 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Milner put the visitors ahead with a superb strike in the 13th minute after playing a clever one-two with Stilian Petrov, but Villa were never in total control against their determined opponents.

Gillingham’s endeavour paid off after 57 minutes when they equalised through Canadian Simeon Jackson who blasted an unstoppable shot past Brad Friedel to score after turning Zat Knight.

Villa though, regained the lead with 11 minutes to play when Milner scored from a penalty after Gills skipper Adam Miller was judged by referee Keith Stroud to have brought down Ashley Young.

Manchester United were playing at Southampton in the day’s late game.

—Reuters