Michael Cheek's 133rd goal saw him become the all leading time scorer in Bromley's modern history, however a controversial 93rd minute penalty from Gillingham's Max Clark saw them draw 2-2 for the second League Two home game in a row.
These were the only two remaining unbeaten sides in League Two so both were looking to continue their positive start to the season here at Hayes Lane.
Bromley did a league double against Gillingham in 24/25, winning 2-1 at home and 3-0 away. If the Gills were to lose for a third succesive time against the Ravens, it would the seventh time that they have lost their first three matches in the Football League against one opponent and the first time since October 2001 when they lost three in a row to Birmingham City.
Andy Woodman made nine changes from the side that drew 3-3 against Crystal Palace Academy here at Hayes Lane during the week.
Corey Whitely and Nickie Kabamba were the only two to survive from that game.
Bromley XI (3-4-1-2) : GK Grant Smith, CB Kyle Cameron, CB Omar Sowunmi, CB Idris Odutayo, LWB Mitch Pinnock, RWB Marcus Ifill, DM Ashley Charles, DM Will Hondermarck, AM Corey Whitely ST, (C) Michael Cheek, ST Nickie Kabamba.
Subs: GK Sam Long, CB Byron Webster, CM Jude Arthurs, CM Alex Stepien-Iwumene, CM Ben Krauhaus, LW Brooklyn Illunga, ST Jermiah Umolu, ST Marcus Dinanga.
Gareth Ainsworth made eight changes to his Gillingham side that beat Fulham's academy 4-1 in the EFL trophy with Clark, Hutton and Little the only ones to keep their spot.
Gillingham XI (3-4-1-2) : GK Glenn Morris, CB Sam Gale,CB Andrew Smith,CB Robbie McKenzie, LWB Max Clark, RWB Remeao Hutton, CM (C) Armani Little, CM Ethan Coleman, AM Jonny Williams, ST Elliot Nevitt, ST Josh Andrews.
Subs: GK Jake Turner, LB Lenni Cirino, LW Aaron Rowe, AM Garath McCleary, AM Jonny Smith, ST Sam Vokes, CM Nelson Khumbeni.
Gillingham had a decent chance in the fourth minute when Jonny Williams played in Elliot Nevitt but the fired high and wide from a difficult angle.
Just a couple of minutes later, Nickie Kabamba continued his goalscoring start to the League Two season, netting his fourth goal in six games. A flick on from skipper and strike partner Michael Cheek saw the ball fall to Kabamba who rifled in hard into the bottom corner.
The visitors should've been level on 9 minutes when a corner was spilled by keeper Grant Smith but Bromley managed to scramble the ball clear.
Seconds later, Bromley were up the other end in a flash making it 2-0. Idris Obutayo taking the ball wide left and delivering a peach of a cross into the six yard box and knowing Michael Cheek's goal record and also the record that was on the line, he was never going to miss from there. A header from the skipper was low and hard into the ground meaning that Gillingham keeper Glenn Morris could get no where near it.
The great Bromley goalscorer became the outright greatest goalscorer in the modern era for Bromley.
The Gills had only let in three goals so far this season yet they were two down in ten minutes.
The Ravens were absolutely soaring in these opening 20 minutes, Kabamba was played through but his effort was stopped by a sprawling Morris before Cheek's header was cleared off the line by Robbie McKenzie.
Gillingham were lacking any sort of composure in this game, first Marcus Ifill nearly caught Morris out by looping the ball over his far post. Then from catching that shot, the veteran keeper threw the ball out to a Bromley player. The cross was unable to be turned home by Cheek though.
Each time the ball got into Gillingham's final third, Andy Woodman's side were managing to create a chance.
Gareth Ainsworth's side were having to resort to long range efforts as Williams fired wide.
Despite the lack of clear cut chances, they had a golden one to make it 2-1 after a misjudgement of a long ball from Omar Sowunmi left Josh Andrews 1v1 with Grant Smith who made a superb save with his feet.
Bromley went in with a 2-0 lead at the break
The Gills nearly made it 2-1 in the 50th minute when Grant Smith had to make a save at his near post from yet another corner, this time to deny Elliot Nevitt.
Finally, Gillingham managed to do some damage from a set piece, a long throw played into the near post by Remeao Hutton to Josh Andrews who directed his header into the bottom left corner.
Cheek nearly had his second and goal number 134 when some brilliant centre forward play saw him head the ball into his own path before his shot from the edge of the box hit the post and bounced out.
Somehow Bromley do not make it 3-1 on 74 minutes, Mitch Pinnock was played through and his hard driven effort was palmed out by Morris to Cheek who had his volley superbly blocked by Gills defender, Max Clark.
In the 89th minute Bromley sub, Marcus Dinanga took the ball away from the feet of the Gillingham keeper, Morris but for some reason with a whole goal to aim at he did not take a shot.
Jonny Williams then fired another long range effort over the bar for Gillingham.
It looked like a repeat of the 2-2 draw with Fleetwood was happening when Jonny Smith was put through by Sam Vokes but Smith made himself big and saved it.
This game was very tense and in the 93rd minute out of a seven additional, Garath McCleary was fouled by Grant Smith and Gillingham had a chance to rescue a point from the penalty spot, in a game where they had managed to somehow avoid going two goals down on multiple occasions.
There were some questions whether the decision to give the spot kick was soft, however the actual penalty itself from Max Clark was anything but soft as he slammed it straight down the middle. The away end went into pandemonium.
The honours could not be split and 2-2 was the final score in what was an incredible game between two very good sides. Bromley will be extremely disappointed to have not managed to get three points again.
The point means Gillingham go top on goal difference but there is still a long way to go in this Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Share