Andy Hessenthaler's Gillingham had the last laugh in the row over supporter recruitment by dumping neighbours Charlton out of the FA Cup with their first win over the Addicks since 1929.

The build-up to this third-round clash was marred by a Charlton scheme to poach support from Gillingham's part of Kent with free tickets for matches at The Valley.

But goals from Tommy Johnson, Mamady Sidibe and Paul Smith stunned the Barclaycard Premiership's fourth-placed club at the Priestfield Stadium.

Charlton had gone ahead after just 34 seconds through an own goal from Ian Cox, but First Division Gillingham overcame the loss of nine players to mount a stunning comeback, rendering Carlton Cole's last-minute strike meaningless.

Addicks manager Alan Curbishley handed Chelsea loan signing Cole his first start of the season after he scored the matchwinner as a substitute against Tottenham, and also recalled Graham Stuart, Claus Jensen and Jon Fortune.

But Gills player-manager Hessenthaler missed the chance to play against his first club after failing to recover from a calf injury.

Charlton were playing their third derby match in a row after beating both Chelsea and Tottenham over Christmas to go fourth in the Premiership.

But their short trip down the A2 was given added spice by a new scheme from Charlton to attract fans who buy homes in the Thames Gateway area away from Gillingham by giving them free tickets for matches at The Valley.

The move infuriated Gills chairman Paul Scally, whose club are struggling financially and still had tickets available for this match the day before kick-off.

But he would have been even more upset when the visitors grabbed a first-minute lead in the most fortuitous of circumstances. Cole won the ball back from Nyron Nosworthy after being dispossessed and backheeled to Paul Konchesky, whose left-wing cross went in off the unfortunate Cox.

But Gillingham struck back to stun Charlton with two goals in two minutes. The equaliser came after another defensive error in the 17th minute, when Johnson latched on to Fortune's weak clearing header and brushed off Chris Perry to beat Kiely at his near post.

And the home side were ahead when Mali striker Sidibe rose highest to fire a towering header into the top corner from Nicky Southall's left-wing cross in the 19th minute.

Suddenly Charlton were missing the influence of midfielder Scott Parker, still out with a stomach strain, and were losing out in the tackle.

Gillingham capitalised when Smith was allowed too much time to tee up a shot from 25 yards in the 34th minute, and his effort bobbled over the unfortunate Kiely to double their lead.

Nosworthy was on hand to block a Jonatan Johansson effort on his own goalline to protect that cushion, but Chris Hope hit the side netting at the other end as the Gills held on until the break.

Charlton were unbeaten in four top-flight matches going into the game but looked disorganised and lacking in ideas.

Curbishley had seen enough and threw caution to the wind, bringing on Paolo di Canio for Perry in the 57th minute.

But Kiely kept their faint hopes alive moments later when Johnson found Nosworthy in space and his stinging shot tested Kiely from an acute angle.

The arrival of Jason Euell in lace of Radostin Kishishev was an even more attacking move, but Kiely saved with his legs from Sidibe's point-blank shot at a 64th-minute corner immediately afterwards.

Kiely also pulled off a fine low diving save to deny Johnson, before the Gills striker was withdrawn in the 75th minute to a standing ovation from the home fans.

Gills keeper Bertrand Bossu then pulled off a miraculous triple save from Jensen, Johansson and Graham Stuart with 11 minutes remaining, and di Canio hit the post with a snapshot as Charlton rallied, but Cole's last-minute consolation came too late.

Teams

Gillingham Bossu, Nosworthy, Cox, Hope, Hills, Southall, Smith, Spiller, Shaw, Tommy Johnson (Henderson 75), Sidibe.

Subs Not Used: Leon Johnson, Rose, Jarvis, Awuah.

Goals: Tommy Johnson 17, Sidibe 19, Smith 34.

Charlton Kiely, Kishishev (Euell 64), Fortune, Perry (Di Canio 57), Hreidarsson, Stuart, Holland, Jensen, Konchesky, Johansson, Cole.

Subs Not Used: Fish, Royce, Hughes.

Goals: Cox 1 og, Cole 90.

Att: 10,894

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).