Gillingham booked their place in the FA Cup Second Round with an extra time winner against Sunderland at Priestfield.

For Brandon Hanlan it was finally some reward after weeks of running himself into the ground and getting kicked and shoved half way round Priestfield over the last six weeks since he scored the decisive goal in the 3-1 win over Southend United back in September as he raced onto a gorgeous through ball and drove beyond the despairing dive of visiting keeper Lee Burge to send the small but very vociferous number of home fans wild.

In front of a crowd that was 2,000 less than those who witnessed Saturday’s win over Lincoln City, the Gills bossed the game for long periods against a side who were many people’s favourites for promotion but are struggling to match the form that saw them so agonisingly close to promotion in May. But under new boss Phil Parkinson, the Maccums find themselves in ninth place in the table two points outside the Play Off places.

Whilst the replay wasn’t the end to end flowing type of Cup tie, it was certainly a totally absorbing and enthralling game – a pity that only 3,561 hardy souls on a cold Tuesday night to witness the home side’s progress.

In reflection it could be argued that the game was Jack Bonham’s quietest in a Gillingham shirt but after only ten minutes the Gills stopper was almost embarrassed by a right-wing cross that almost crept in at the back post.

The Gills best efforts of the opening half both fell to Hanlan – the first a diving header that flashed narrowly wide of the right post before the Gills striker’s blistering pace saw him get to the line before driving a centre that whistled across the face of goal.

There was a scare early for the visitors early in the second half when Stuart O’Keefe saw a ball bounce up from a challenge to a Sunderland hand – referee Young though was quite happy to wave the appeals away.

Olly Lee then shot over as the Gills still searched for a way through before O’Keefe was involved in a clash of heads but after treatment was able to return to the action where again, he led the Gills magnificently as the visitors simply were pushed back, unable to get a hold on the game.

Meanwhile the Gills were still searching and probing but the closest they got was followed by a great ball in by Lee caused chaos with both Hanlan and sub Mikael Ndjoli sadly unable to get any sort of contact on the ball to force the ball home.

Extra time began with the game following a similar pattern – Hanlan saw a header fly high over when he was unmarked at a corner, before the even industrious Mark Byrne seemed to get pulled back as he combined with Hanlan – again referee Young was not interested – before one of the Gills heroes on the night – skipper Max Ehmer – crashed the ball off the angle of post and bar, as the home faithful began to think it wasn’t going to be their night.

With Ehmer and young Jack Tucker outstanding in the middle at the back and with Barry Fuller and Connor Ogilvie performing equally superbly in the full back roles, Sunderland really did see all their attacks flounder on a mlue wall. But they needn’t have given up their ever-growing faith in their heroes as on the stroke of half time in extra time, Hanlan finally broke his duck and the tie was won.

The only real scare the Gills had in the second period was when Hanlan collided with the post after a challenge from a defender, but the Gills goal scorer was able to carry on and had the last word as it was his goal that set up a home tie with Doncaster Rovers in the Second Round – one thing is for sure, it’ll be a far different Gills side that faces the Yorkshiremen than did on the opening day of the season when the two sides drew 1-1…

Gillingham line up: Bonham, Tucker, Fuller, Ehmer, Ogilvie, O’Keefe, Jones, Byrne, Lee, Jakubiak (Ndjoli 59), Hanlan.

Subs not used: Walsh, Hodson, Charles-Cook, Cisse, Marshall, Pringle.

Goal: Hanlan (105).

Booked: Ehmer (45+1).

Sunderland line up: Burge, Ozturk (Bainbridge 90), Power, Maguire, O’Nien, Watmore (McGeady 64), Grigg (Connelly 112), Leadbitter, De Bock, Hume (McGeouch 115), Taylor.

Subs not used: Patterson, Sammut, Mumba.

Booked: De Bock (55), O’Nien (85), Connelly (117).

Referee: Mr Alan Young

Attendance: 3,561 (329 Sunderland)

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.