Gillingham boss Neil Harris got his wish on Saturday – a place in the draw for the Second Round of the FA Cup – but the former finalist will be far from happy about National League North AFC Fylde’s late equaliser that means it’s all to do at Priestfield.
Leading courtesy of Mika Mandron’s first half stoppage time strike from Will Wright’s free kick looked like it had earned the Gills a desperately needed win and progress, but with just seven minutes left on referee Reeves watch, Tom Walker volleyed the tie back to Priestfield a week on Tuesday and kept both sides “interested” in Monday night’s second round draw.
Ryan Law had the game’s first good chance just past the quarter hour. The Plymouth loanee (whose parent club – current League One leaders were humbled 5-1 at League Two Grimsby Town) forced home keeper Chris Neal into a fine low save that took the ball away from a sliding Mandron at the back post.
The Gills striker though did get the goal that his efforts deserved in first half added on time as he got on the end of Wright’s free kick, creating enough room for himself before burying the ball past Neal into the net.
Glenn Morris kept the Gills ahead with a smart save on the hour as the Gills keeper tipped over from Emeka Obi’s header as the second half turned into a battle for Gillingham as the home side came increasingly into the game.
That said though, sub Scott Kashket came agonisingly close to cementing the Gills’ place into Round Two twelve minutes from time as his curling effort was kept out by Neal who was relieved to gather the rebound.
Just as it looked like the Gills would get the victory, AFC levelled with just seven minutes left on the clock with Walker on hand to hammer Danny Rowe’s cross past Morris and into the Gillingham net.
Buoyed by the equaliser, the shock almost materialised as twice in the closing minutes Nick Haughton could and on another day would have put the Non-League side through. Morris made a terrific full length save and then in stoppage time, the Fylde man blazed well wide when well placed.
Back to Priestfield then and the Gills just about still in the Greatest Cup Competition in the World… next up for Harris and his players the boot is well and truly on the other foot in midweek when Gillingham head for Premier League Brentford in the third round of the Carabao Cup… funny game football!
AFC FYLDE – Neal, Weston (Whitehead 63), Obi, Whitmore, Philliskirk, Rowe, Haughton, Conlan, Charman (Ligendza 84), Walker, Bird.
Subs not used – McPartlan, Davis, Hatfield, Rowley, Taylor, O’Kane, Edwards.
Goal: Walker (83).
Booked: Bird (45+2).
GILLINGHAM – Morris, McKenzie, Wright, Baggott, Law, Adelakun, O’Keefe (Ehmer 62), Jefferies, MacDonald (Alexander 81), Walker (Kashket 73), Mandron.
Subs not used – Turner, Akehurst, Mnoga, Gbode.
Goal: Mandron (45+3).
Booked: O’Keefe (5).
Referee – Mr Tom Reeves
Attendance: 996
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.