Gillingham came from a goal down to defeat Charlton 4-3 in the first round of the FA Youth Cup on Monday night in a fascinating, entertaining encounter at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Harry Webster put Gills in front only for Charlton to score a quickfire double prior to the interval to turn the tie on its head.
Kacper Kot and Stan Sargent put Gills 3-2 up, but Alan Mwamba ensured the tie went to extra-time before Johah Walker sealed it with a well struck free-kick.
Mark Moss was taking his last game as youth team manager and he was able to name both Harry Webster and Harry Waldock in the starting XI with Stan Sargent in attack. Jimmy Heasman and Cruz Beszant were in support of the striker.
Gills took the lead with the first effort on target. Walker’s corner from the left was sent in towards the near post, it took a flick off a Charlton defender and Webster stole half a yard on his man to tuck away from close range.
A few minutes later the hosts could have had a second; Harry Waldock played a neat through pass for Sargent who timed his run well into the box. He found space for a shot but his powerful strike cleared the bar.
Emmanuel Sol-Loza went on a fine solo run, turning men inside out but a last ditch tackle prevented Carter Sullivan from being needed.
On 32 minutes, somehow, Gills failed to get their second when Sargent did brilliantly to spot Walker’s run on the inside. His cross to the back post was headed on by Heasman, his header looked destined for the net but it stayed out. Beszant’s follow up effort struck the post.
Just before the break Charlton created a decent opening on the left hand side of Gills penalty area but Ibrahim Fullah’s powerful left footed strike missed the target leaving Sullivan untroubled.
However, moments later, the referee awarded a penalty following a tackle by Kacper Kot. Fullah stepped up and, although Sullivan went the right way, he couldn’t keep it out.
And there was still time for Charlton to add a second and complete a quick turnaround. Reuben Reid was given time on the edge of the box for a shot, and he placed a superb effort from 20 yards into the corner giving Sullivan no chance.
H/T: Gillingham 1-2 Charlton Athletic
Gills got back on level terms shortly after the interval when another set play caused chaos in the Charlton box. Finley Woodham in the Addicks goal when to punch it clear, failed to make contact and Kot was well placed to prod the ball home from close range.
Sullivan made an excellent stop on 68 minutes when Tate Elliott’s header from point blank range was tipped over by the Gillingham keeper for a corner which was well dealt with.
A few minutes later and Gills got themselves back in front. Walker sent in another peach of a cross into the heart of the Charlton box. Sargent watched it all the way and beautifully guided a header into the bottom corner.
In a real ding-dong encounter, Charlton reacted well and on 78 minutes they levelled things up when Alan Mwamba was offered the opportunity on the edge of the box to get a shot away, and his precise shot beat Sullivan into the bottom corner.
F/T: Gillingham 3-3 Charlton Athletic
Sullivan was alert to palm away a well struck free-kick shortly into the first period of extra-time. Fullah got his effort up and over the wall but the Gills keeper was down quickly to force a corner which Dobbs cleared.
H/T in ET: Gillingham 3-3 Charlton Athletic
Gills were given a free-kick early in the half and Jonah Walker stepped up. His shot had plenty of power on it. Woodham got a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough and the ball snuck inside the post.
The hosts defended brilliantly in the closing stages and saw the game out to go through to the second round.
F/T after extra-time: Gillingham 4-3 Charlton Athletic
Gills: Sullivan, Kot, Dobbs, Webster, Walker, White, Luxton (Asaba 90), Beszant, Heasman (Dayal 83), Waldock, Sargent.
Unused subs: Hegarty, Broadbent, Adams, Booth, Cross
Charlton: Woodham, Brown, Tagoe, Safa, Cann, Elliott, Reid, Mwamba, Sol-Loza, Amoah (Ogunnowo 61), Fullah
Unused subs: Sadler, Valentine, Belton, Dawkins, McMillan, Burnham
Attendance: 348 (39)
Referee: Mr D David
