Andy Hessenthaler admitted Tuesday’s game was a nightmare as he watched the drama unfold from the touchline.

The Gills manager (pictured) saw his side concede four goals but win the game at the death just moments after keeper Paulo Gazzaniga had tipped a penalty over the bar.

“At 4-2 you think 'we’re dead and buried',” Hessenthaler said. “But football is a funny game. I have never been in a game like it.

“It’s great for the fans and you saw that with their reaction and they will go home talking about if for several weeks. For a manager, it’s a nightmare.

“I sincerely feel for Jamie Pitman (Hereford manager) because he is a good guy, and things do go against you, but he should be proud of his team and if they keep showing that effort and endeavour then they will be fine. It’s a crazy game and let’s hope we are not involved in more of those.”

Gillingham conceded twice in the opening moments to leave them with an uphill task.

“You can’t legislate for that situation,” he said. “There were a few mistakes early on, a few nerves perhaps, we got punished but we kept plugging away and kept trying to play football.

“I was disappointed with the first goal in that young Jack Evans didn’t get enough help in that situation. He was isolated one-on-one and he should have a bit of help. Experienced players should do better.

“Unfortunately he has given the penalty away and they have scored that.”

Either side of the half-time break the Gills pulled it back to 2-2.

Hessenthaler brought Charlie Lee on for Evans.

“I just felt at half-time that we needed to get Charlie on, a steady head with a bit more experience,” said the Gills boss.

After conceding twice again the Gills pulled it level again as Lee netted twice.

Hessenthaler continued: “We got back in at 4-4 and you think you are going to get something out of the game. Then we gave a penalty away. It’s heart in mouth stuff, feeling sick at the time, and I couldn’t believe it after getting back.”

Gazzaniga escaped with a yellow card despite tripping the Hereford man down on route to goal. Hessenthaler admitted the Gills got lucky.

“They (Hereford) are going to be disappointed that Paulo didn’t get sent off but we went to Port Vale two weeks ago and their player should have been sent off,” said the Gills boss.

“I do feel for Jamie without a shadow of a doubt. It’s really tough on him. I think the referee maybe saw that he fouled him but that the ball was going to go out of play. He was going wide of Paulo. That was the reason it was a yellow, according to the fourth official.”

But Gazzaniga saved and the Gills went up the other end and won it in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

“It’s gone against them but he has stood up and saved the penalty,” Hessenthaler said.

“They obviously think he shouldn’t have been on the pitch. That’s life, that’s football, these things happen. When things aren’t going for you they don’t.

“We are delighted to have won the game. I was speechless. It was unbelievable and I have never been in a game like it.”