Naz Bakrin scored to settle a thrilling Kent Senior Cup tie and send Tonbridge Angels into the semi-finals at Gillingham’s expense.
The Gills came from behind three times at the Longmead Stadium on Tuesday night but had no answer to Bakrin’s late effort.
Bunmi Babajide netted the opener, and half-time substitute Frankie Baker scored twice for the hosts, but a young Gills team levelled on each occasion, with goals from Louie Dayal, Damien Theodore and Sullivan Booth.
But it’s Tonbridge who progress to the semi-finals of the county cup thanks to Bakrin’s winner, where they will meet Chatham Town. The winners of that match face Maidstone United in the final.
Gillingham named a side full of youth players and young professionals for the match, which was watched by a crowd of just over 400.
Harry Webster captained a Gills team that was taking on a Tonbridge side that included plenty of experienced players but was much-changed from the weekend.
Jordan Thompson and Sean Shields were the only two players who had started their National South game against Hemel Hempstead.
The Gills began the cup tie brightly and forced keeper Laurie Shala into an early save. Dayal and Booth both went close for the visitors, while at the other end, Bakrin shot wide.
Gillingham needed to make an early change following an injury to goalkeeper Fletcher Hegarty, with Benji Spencer replacing him after half an hour.
Spencer was quickly called into action, and he got down well to save from Shields.
The deadlock was broken after 37 minutes with Babajide netting for the hosts, finding the far corner after Marcus Sablier had picked him out in the box.
Shields forced another save from Spencer five minutes before the interval.
The teams went in level at the break as Dayal found the net after Theodore beat his man out wide before playing the ball into his team-mate.
Dayal had close again just before the break with a goal-bound effort that was blocked.
Just a minute into the second half, Tonbridge restored their advantage when half-time substitute Baker – who is on loan from Millwall – made an immediate impact.
It was 2-2 on 53 minutes when the lively Theodore scored a brilliant goal, picking out the top corner with a curling effort.
Babajide put an effort over the bar for the Angels and Gills’ Alfie Cross forced Shala into a save from a free-kick before the hosts went in front for a third time.
It was a second goal from Baker that put Tonbridge 3-2 ahead, scoring on 66 minutes. Spencer had saved the initial effort from Matty Warren but couldn’t keep out the follow-up.
A last-ditch clearance denied substitute striker Tom Leahy from adding a fourth for Tonbridge on 72 minutes, moments after he had replaced Pavey.
Gillingham equalised for a third time when Sullivan Booth scored on 82 minutes, running onto a pass before slotting the ball past keeper Shala.
The home side went ahead again three minutes later when Bakrin pounced, after a scramble inside the Gillingham box, and that goal was enough to finally settle the tie.
