Brackley Town returned to upset Gillingham in the FA Cup and earn a hard-fought first-round replay at St James’ Park thanks to a 2-2 draw at Priestfield.
The National League North outfit knocked the Gills out at this stage in 2013, and looked set to do so again when Alex Grudger and James Armson fired them into a two-goal lead.
A Frank Nouble brace had Gillingham level by half-time, but neither side could find a winner.
Brackley took the lead in the 13th minute when Gudger nodded home Glenn Walker’s in-swinging corner.
Enjoying the time and space Gillingham afforded them, the visitors doubled their lead in spectacular fashion 14 minutes later.
The Saints’ top scorer Armson curled a 25-yard shot past the dive of Stuart Nelson and in off the bar.
Clear daylight lasted a matter of seconds however, as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas bundled his way into the area and squared for Nouble to pull one back immediately.
Gillingham’s equaliser was a carbon copy of their first, Emmanuel-Thomas driving a low ball across from the right and finding Nouble to slam home two minutes from the break.
The second period yielded fewer chances, but Brackley carried the greater threat as the Gills struggled to sustain attacks.
In the end, neither side could find a winner and the two sides will head to Brackley with The Gills hoping there isn’t a repeat of 2013.
Manager Justin Edinburgh now faces an anxious few days after calls from fans for him to lose his job. Boos rang out at a sparsely populated Priestfield and with the EFL Trophy tie at West Bromwich Albion to come on Tuesday night, he will be hoping he’s still in position.
Gillingham line up: Nelson, Osadebe, Konchesky, Ehmer, Oshilaja, Wright, Knott, Hessenthaler, Nouble (List 56), Emmanuel-Thomas, McDonald (Donnelly 81).
Subs not used: Hadler, Pask, Oldaker, Dickenson, Byrne.
Goals: Nouble (28) & (45).
Booked: Hessenthaler (62), Oshilaja (84).
Brackley Town line up: Walker, Myles, Gudger, Byrne, Graham, Dean, G Walker, Armson, Ndlovu (Pitt 90), Diggin (Moyo 78), A Walker.
Subs not used: Lowe, Cox, Farrell, Rankin, Noon.
Goals: Gudger (13), Armson (27).
Booked: Myles (61), Armson (72).
Referee: Mr Brendan Malone
Attendance: 2,410 (148 Brackley)