It’s not called the greatest cup competition in the World for nothing and even the absence of supporters cannot take anything away from this Cup classic as Gillingham came from two down against National League Woking to win a five-goal thriller.

Behind at the break, it looked that the Gills dream of another Cup run was dead and buried when Josh Davison added to Max Kretzschmar’s first half drive.

But one thing that Steve Evans’ tenure has shown is that his Gillingham sides are never beaten until the final whistle and so – thankfully – it proved once again as Dominic Samuel netted twice in the space of nine minutes to level the scores and it was left to super sub Vadaine Oliver to head the Gills into Round Two as he got on the end of Jordan Graham’s cross.

With next weekend’s League fixture against Lincoln City called off due to international call up’s, Steve Evans named a really strong side as the Gills looked to set out on another Cup run, with Tuesday’s matchwinner John Akinde returning to the starting line up along with keeper Jack Bonham.

It was the traditional start to the tie and Akinde was centimetres away from giving Gillingham the lead as he crashed a fourth minute header against the visitor’s bar.

Both sides probed and searched for the break-through as Davison went close for Woking and Samuel sent a free kick just to high for the home side before the alarm bells started ringing for Gillingham as Kretzschmar beat Bonham low to the bottom corner from a neat set-piece.

The Gills were fortunate not to concede a second when Jack Tucker inadvertently steered a Woking corner against his own bar shortly before the break – the rebound was cleared to safety – before Declan Drysdale flashed a header wide at the other end as time elapsed.

Oliver replaced Akinde at the break as the Gills tried to change things, but it was to get worse as Davison doubled the lead ten minutes into the half – firing home from a corner.

But as we have already said, put this Gills side back’s to wall and you get a response and so it proved again as they rallied and how to stay in the competition.

Samuel reduced the arrears within five minutes with a fine header from another Graham delivery – this time a corner – as the Gills rallied superbly. Robbie McKenzie’s shot missed the target, substitute Trey Coyle was brilliantly denied by keeper Craig Ross and Drysdale crashed the ball against the bar from a header.

Before Samuel levelled the scores with twenty two minutes left, side footing home after another corner had caused chaos in the Woking box.

All to play for in the last twenty minutes but it was the Gills who now had the momentum and eleven minutes from time, duly completed the come-back and put one foot into Round Two. Again, Graham was the provider as this time his cross was headed home by Oliver to edge the Gills in front.

The frame of Woking’s goal was struck for a third time when skipper Kyle Dempsey thundered a shot against a post, and with Gills hearts in very much mouths, Woking had late chances to force extra time, but Dave Tarpey fired over and Slavi Spassov’s shot was save by Bonham.

So, it’s the Gills who take their place in Round Two and Monday’s draw with another potential tie with a Premier League club now just one game away.

GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Jackson, Ogilvie, Tucker, Drysdale, Kyle Dempsey, McKenzie, O’Connor (Coyle), Graham, Samuel, Akinde (Oliver)

Subs – Walsh, Maghoma, Medley, Eccles, Willock

WOKING – Ross, Reid, Casey, Cook, Shotten, Cooper, Ben Dempsey (Tarpey), Kretzschmar (Wareham), Ferdinand, Spasov, Davison

Subs – Smith, Gerring, Collier, Leslie, Lofthouse

REFEREE – Mr Sarginson

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC