Gillingham conceded a late goal at non-league AFC Fylde as the first round FA Cup match ended level.

Mandron put the Gills infront at the end of the opening half but the National North side were rewarded for their second half pressure as Tom Walker levelled with four minutes left.

Gillingham boss Neil Harris named a strong side to take on the National North opponents, keen to progress in a competition that he has enjoyed good times previously as a player and manager.

Fylde sat seventh in their league prior to kick off, the full-time club playing two levels below the Gills. They went into the match keen to claim their first even Football League scalp.

Gillingham were in need of a boost after a slow start in League 2, with wins and goals hard to come by. This tie will now be decided at Priestfield with both teams in the hat in Monday’s round two draw.

It was the non-league hosts who showed the early promise but the Gills gradually got on top during the opening half.

Ryan Law’s cross/shot was almost met at the back post by Mandron while Dom Jefferies had a shot deflected wide form distance and Hakeeb Adelakun tested the keeper’s handling from 25 yards.

Just before the Gills took the lead there were fears they may have been reduced to 10 men. Captain Stuart O’Keefe had already been cautioned for a wayward challenge on Luke Charman with just five minutes played. He was spoken to by the referee again late in the half when he and Curtis Weston - the former Gills man - went in for a 50-50. The Fylde man came off worse but referee Tom Reeves kept his cards in his pocket.

The home fans weren’t happy moments later when Pierce Bird was then booked for a challenge, which led to Gills’ opener. Wright played the stoppage-time free-kick into the box where an unmarked Mandron finished well into the bottom corner.

It was the fourth successive Gillingham goal that had come from a Wright set-piece.

Fylde looked for a way back into the match during the start of the second half but the Gills soaked up the pressure without any drama.

Fylde went close from a corner, headed at goal by Emeka Obi, only to see Glenn Morris tip the ball over the bar. The same player met the follow-up corner but Mandron cleared.

A corner from the opposite side gave Fylde another chance and Luke Charman put an effort just wide.

As the hosts upped the intensity, they thought they should have had a penalty when Charman went down in the box, but referee Reeves was unmoved.

Gillingham had a rare chance when substitute Scott Kashket was played in by Wright but goalkeeper Chris Neal saved.

An equalising goal came for Fylde with six minutes left as Walker met a cross at the far post and side-footed home into the bottom corner.

Nick Haughton came close to bending in a winner for Fylde but Morris saved well and the same player fired wide with a minute left.

AFC Fylde: Neal, Bird, Obi, Whitmore, Conlan, Walker, Weston (Whitehead 62mins), Philliskirk, Haughton, Charman (Ligendza 84mins), Rowe. Subs not used: Rowley, Davis, Hatfield, McPartlan, Taylor, Edwards, O’Kane.

Gillingham: Morris, McKenzie, Law, Baggott, Wright, O’Keefe (Ehmer 61mins), Jefferies, MacDonald (Alexander 81mins), Adelakun, Walker (Kashket 73mins), Mandron. Subs not used: Turner, Lee, Mnoga, Akehurst, Gbode.

Referee: Tom Reeves

Attendance: 996