If proof were needed, then it is found – the magic of the FA Cup is alive and kicking right here in Kent!

They were summoned to Fortress Priestfield in their thousands and the ten heroes dressed in Blue and Black together with the six-foot nine giant keeper, dressed all in orange responded… AND HOW!

This was a good old traditional tie from the Greatest Cup Competition in the World that began with the higher ranked side well on top with home defensive heroics, with the home side slowly growing in to the contest.

Beginning to believe and probe and stretch the favourites until they finally broke to deliver the winning blow whilst at the same time surviving some desperate last gasp defensive blocks and nearly nine minutes of stoppage time before the faithful lifted the roof on the Fortress when a Fourth Round place was secured for the first time since January 2004!

In truth the games only goal summed up the contest perfectly.  Full back Luke O’Neill’s long diagonal pass forward saw Tom Eaves and Sean Morrison battle for the ball just had the pair done all afternoon titanic-ally.

This time, Morrison was left on the floor and for Eaves who did brilliantly to keep the ball in play to begin with and then to find the arriving Elliott List to sensationally drill the ball home to send the majority of the 7,090-crowd wild.

Yet given the Gills season thus far, even the most faithful still expected a Premier League equaliser, but due to some poor finishing and some unbelievable last ditch defending and blocks, the Blue and Black line held firm and as referee Robinson finally blew the final whistle.

The game had started with Cardiff in the ascendancy – indeed the possession statistics early on would have been fascinating to see as Cardiff keeper Alex Smithies was “just” a spectator for long periods.

His opposite number meanwhile was giving one of his most assured performances for some time, and cometh the hour cometh the Holy in style.  Cardiff full back Joe Bennett got in behind the Gills back five only to be denied point blank by Tomas Holy before rebound number one was block by Gabriel Zakuani and number two by Mark Byrne to deny Joe Rallis and Bobby Decordova- Reid.

There was a growing sense around the ground that the Gills were slowly finding their feet and a super Garmston centre was just too high for a late arriving Eaves, before the same two combined just before the break with this time the unmarked Eaves heading over.

Lovell made a tactical change at the break with Parker “moving” into the number ten role behind Eaves and List, and it was a sliding Eaves who was inches away from O’Neill’s driven cross before keeper Smithies bravely denied Eaves diving at the striker’s feet.  The best chance of this spell was to fall to Parker who got in front of List to steer O’Neill’s centre high into the Rainham End when it looked easier to score.

Was the miss going to be costly?  The home crowd certainly got edgy as the visitors twice went close through Nathaniel Mendez-Laing – firstly firing into the side netting after squeezing through before with ten minutes left, he left Holy rooted as he smacked a curling shot against the Gills crossbar.

Then came List’s moment and the home side had the lead.  There was still time for Josh Murphy to be a coat of paint away from levelling, and for Reilly to hit the Cardiff bar.

With the seconds ticking away, Cardiff tried one last effort in vane and this time Conor Ogilvie came up with an incredible block and as the ball was cleared the final whistle went and with it the sanity of the home supporters as Priestfield rose as one to salute their eleven heroes who had seen the 99 minutes out and won a place in the next round.

On the day that a generation of Gills fans who wondered what it was like to beat a top-flight club, finally had their answer… and a place in the last 32 of the Greatest Cup Competition in the World!

Gillingham line up:Holy, O’Neill, Lacey, Zakuani, Ogilvie, Garmston, Reilley, Byrne, Parker, Eaves, List.

Subs not used: Hadler, Hanlan, Charles-Cook, Nasseri, Simpson, Mbo, Rees.

Goal: List (81).

Booked: Zakuani (49), Parker (93), Garmston (94).

Cardiff City line up: Smithies, Peltier, Bennett, Morrison, Ecuele-Manga, Rails, Paterson, Decorda-Reid (Ward 74), Mendez-Laing, Damour (Hoilett 93), Harris (J Murphy 54).

Subs not used: B Murphy, Cunningham, Coxe, Humphries.

Referee: Mr Tim Robinson

Attendance: 7,090 (642 Cardiff).

Image courtesy of Kent Pro Images