Gillingham survived an early scare to cruise into the fourth round of the FA Cup and set up a home tie against Leeds United.

Two goals in six minutes from Marlon King and a third from strike-partner Guy Ipoua gave the home side a commanding half-time lead against a makeshift Wednesday side who had taken the lead through Gerald Sibon.

King missed a second penalty after the break before Chris Hope sealed victory with a towering header.

Barry Ashby recovered from a throat infection to take his place in the Gillingham defence, while striker Mamady Sidibe was on the bench after a hamstring injury.

Owls boss Chris Turner was without seven of the side that beat Rotherham.

Loan quartet Lee Bradbury, Garry Monk, Allan Johnston and Adam Proudlock were all refused permission to play, with the latter recalled by Wolves earlier in the day.

Midfielder Paul McLaren missed out with a leg problem, goalkeeper Kevin Pressman had a calf strain, while Derek Geary suffered a knee injury at Millmoor.

The visitors got off to the perfect start, taking the lead inside the first five minutes when Alan Quinn crossed for Sibon to nod in his eighth goal of the season.

Gillingham, who had not played a game since Boxing Day, went in search of a quickfire response, and they got it just eight minutes later as Nayron Nosworthy crossed for King to drill a low shot into the bottom corner.

In a dramatic turnaround, the Gills went ahead in the 18th minute when Wednesday defender Ashley Westwood handled the ball in the area and striker King lashed the spot-kick into the roof of the net for his seventh of the campaign.

Tony Crane's acrobatic attempt cleared the crossbar on the half hour as the Owls hit back, but it was the home side who extended their lead before the break.

Moments after he had fired wide from close range, Ipoua pounced to score his first goal in nine games.

King's stinging shot was only parried by Stringer and the Cameroon forward was on hand to turn in the loose ball.

Wednesday started the second half brightly as Quinn forced a fine stop from Jason Brown with a powerful volley after 47 minutes.

But Gillingham were quickly back in the ascendancy, and were awarded a second penalty in the 66th minute after Crane brought down Shaw in the box.

King was denied his hat-trick as Stringer palmed his spot-kick to safety.

The Priestfield faithful did not have to wait too long for a fourth, however, as less than 10 minutes later Hessenthaler's deep cross picked out defender Hope, and he gave the keeper little chance with a strong header.

Sidibe, who came on with 13 minutes left, fired a shot inches over the crossbar in the 83rd minute and King had the chance to cap a fine display with a fifth at the death, only to see his close-range shot parried by Stringer.

Teams:

Gillingham: Brown, Southall, Ashby, Hope, Nosworthy, Hessenthaler (Spiller 80), Smith, Saunders, Shaw, King, Ipoua (Sidibe 77).

Subs Not Used: Bartram, Leon Johnson, Perpetuini.

Goals: King 12, 18 pen, Ipoua 41, Hope 75.

Sheff Wed: Stringer, Westwood, Crane, Bromby, Beswetherick, Quinn, Haslam, Soltvedt, Morrison (Knight 60), Sibon (Jon Shaw 75), Kuqi.

Subs Not Used: Evans, Maddix, Matthew Shaw.

Booked: Morrison.

Goals: Sibon 4.

Att: 6,434

Ref: P Taylor.