Gillingham earnt themselves an FA Cup First Round replay on Saturday with Danny Kedwell scoring a late equaliser.

Having been 3-1 down on the hour mark and seemingly going out of the cup, The Gills showed great character to come back and earn a replay back at Priestfield and be in the hat for Sunday’s Second Round draw.

Stephen Purches had given the home side the lead in the 20th minute from outside the box after confusion amongst the Gills defence, but they were level just seventeen minutes later when Jack Payne scored his second screamer of the season firing home from at least 35 yards out.

Gillingham looked to be dead and buried on the hour mark when the home side scored two in a minute with Stephane Zubar poking home after Paulo Gazzaniga fumbled and Scott Malone made it 3-1 just a minute later.

The visitors, spurred on by the 376 Gills fans, were back in the game on 71 minutes when Danny Jackman’s low shot somehow squeezed under Darryl Flahavan in the Bournemouth goal.

To top off a great game of FA Cup football, top scorer Danny Kedwell was on hand to fire home after Charlie Lee’s throw was flicked on by Lewis Montrose in the 90th minute.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler was forced into making four changes to the side that beat Northampton Town with Ross Flitney and Garry Richards missing out with knee and hamstring injuries.

Their places in the side went to Paulo Gazzaniga, making only his second start in a Gills shirt and Matt Fish coming back into the side at right back.

With Frank Nouble and Jo Kuffour not allowed to feature as their parent clubs didn’t want them getting cup tied, Gillingham reverted to a 4-5-1 formation with Jack Payne returning to the side and Luke Rooney coming back in down the left hand side.

As Gazzaniga was named in the starting line up, Gillingham had to make do without a keeper on the bench as Daren Hawkes was cup tied playing for Ramsgate earlier in the season.

After an impecably observed silence for Remembrance Day, The Cherries were twice fortunate in the opening stages as defensive lapses almost allowed Gillingham to strike first. Flahavan survived a scare as Cherries were forced to scramble clear after Luke Rooney had looked to profit from the goalkeeper’s miss-kick.

Gills midfielder Jackman then got in behind Harry Arter, but Zubar was perfectly positioned to clear his dangerous, low cross.

With a five-man midfield behind lone frontman Kedwell, the visitors made an enterprising start to the tie, with Cherries’ initial bright moments coming courtesy of Marc Pugh down the right.

But when the hosts created their first opportunity of the afternoon, it followed good work by Malone on the opposite flank. The Wolves loan man drove forward and delivered an inviting cross for the onrushing Thomas, only for the sliding Andy Frampton to produce an excellent block.

Now looking more threatening, Bournemouth were denied when Gazzaniga stood tall to block Pugh’s close-range effort after the wide man had been found by Warren Cummings. Bournemouth were rewarded for an improved spell, though, when Purches handed them a 20th-minute lead from the resulting corner.

Malone’s set piece was headed into the danger area by Adam Barrett and when Gills could only clear as far as Purches, the Cherries utility man took a touch before thumping home a right-footed rocket off the underside of the crossbar.

But the home team and their supporters were stunned when Jack Payne equalised from all of 35 yards. There appeared little danger when the midfielder took aim and drilled his effort in the direction of Flahavan. However, Bournemouth were left to rue giving the 19-year-old time and space as his dipping drive sailed over Flahavan’s despairing leap and into the net.

Having regained their composure, Bournemouth saw Pugh shoot straight at Gazzaniga before the Argentinean brilliantly parried Thomas’s firm left-footed drive as the hosts finished the half on the front foot.

Gazzaniga was grateful to gather after Malone had looked set to convert Pugh’s tempting cross as the Cherries picked up where they left off after the interval. Thomas then headed wide a Francis cross after more fine work by Pugh down the right.

But Bournemouth did not have to wait long to regain the lead – as they took a major step towards victory with two goals in quick succession.

Zubar made no mistake on 59 minutes as he hooked home from close range after Gazzaniga had fumbled a Pugh free-kick. And within seconds, Cherries had a third as Malone latched on to a loose ball before superbly whipping home from 18 yards, his right-foot curler leaving Gazzaniga with no chance.

But Gillingham set up a tense finale by reducing the deficit with 19 minutes remaining – as Flahavan endured another moment to forget.

The Cherries keeper looked well placed to comfortably gather Jackman’s low free-kick, only to see the ball slip through his grasp and into the net.

As the Gills chased a leveller, the game because increasingly stretched. Substitute Stefan Payne missed a header before Thomas, latching on to a Symes through ball, saw Gazzaniga do brilliantly to save at his feet.

Gazzaniga then superbly blocked a Malone header after the winger had met a deep cross from Francis.

And Gillingham made Cherries pay when Kedwell fired home to ensure there would be a re-run at Priestfield for the right to play in the second round with a likely date for the replay being Tuesday 22nd November.

FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 3-3 GILLINGHAM

Next up for Gillingham is a trip to Aldershot on Saturday with Andy Frampton having to miss the game after picking up his fifth booking of the season, paving the way for Simon King to make a return to the starting line up.

Bournemouth line up: Darryl Flahavan, Warren Cummings, Adam Barrett, Wes Thomas, Michael Symes, Harry Arter, Marc Pugh, Scott Malone, Simon Francis, Stephen Purches, Stephane Zubar.

Subs not used: Shwan Jalal, Steve Fletcher, Lyle Taylor, Mark Molesley, Lewis Lindsey, Josh Carmichael, Elliott Ward.

Goals: Purches (20), Zubar (59), Malone (60).

Booked: Arter (40), Cummings (70).

Gillingham line up: Paulo Gazzaniga, Matt Fish, Matt Lawrence, Andy Frampton, Joe Martin, Chris Whelpdale (Dennis Oli 66), Charlie Lee, Jack Payne (Lewis Montrose 80), Danny Jackman, Luke Rooney (Stefan Payne 77), Danny Kedwell.

Subs not used: Simon King, Connor Essam, Dean Rance.

Goals: J Payne (37), Jackman (71), Kedwell (90).

Booked: Frampton (33), Lee (56).

Referee: Mr Dave Phillips

Assts: Mr P Rees & Mr R Hyde

4th official: Mr C Lymer

Attendance: 4,282 (376 Gills)