Borrowed Swansea City linkman Ben Lloyd was the spot-kick hero as the Exiles roared into the Emirates FA Cup second round after a titanic tie on the banks of the River Usk.
In an encounter that had more twists than an Agatha Christie novel, battling Newport came from behind with Cameron Evans and Cameron Antwi striking, Elliott Nevitt and County old boy Seb Palmer-Houlden replying for the visitors.
Then in a dramatic spot-kick show down in extra time with the tie locked 3-3 on penalties, up stepped Lloyd to seal the victory, this after Antwi needed to take his kick twice after referee Ross Martin had ruled Gills keeper Jake Turner had moved off his line.
Official Martin had ordered a goal frame support to be replaced during the drama, which had a sweet ending for Exile boss David Hughes who tasted victory at home for the first time under his tenure, though this was County's fourth win in their last five encounters.
On Halloween weekend, Michael Jackson's Thriller and the Automatic's Monster boomed across the Rodney Parade turf splashed with autumn sunshine, but slicked too with the occasional shower.
County were unchanged from the side that hammered Harrogate 3-0 in League Two in north Yorkshire seven days ago - the Exiles again seemingly favouring the midfield diamond structure, playmaker Kai Whitmore feeding a warhead of Courtney Baker-Richardson and Gerard Garner.
The men from Medway were robbed of manager Gareth Ainsworth's guile, number two Richard Dobson once more deputising for his boss who continues to recuperate after a hospital procedure.
The Gills were without experienced keeper Glenn Morris with a groin problem, the 41-year-old replaced by Jake Turner, the former Bolton man one of three changes in the visitor's line up, Armani Little, Sam Gates and striker Elliott Nevitt slotting into an expected 4-3-3 strategy.
In a sterile opening both opponents probed, but it was Gillingham who landed a decisive punch on 14 minutes. Remeao Hutton's approach was touched back by Robbie McKenzie for Elliott Nevitt to fire a right-footer into the net via a heavy deflection.
The blue-shirted Gills were flooding forward again five later, County stopper Jordan Wright sprang low, brilliantly pawing away Josh Andrew's close-range downward header after Hutton had ghosted free on the right.
But a multi-player altercation on the half-hour led by the finger-pointing Andrews menacingly accusing County's Antwi of decking Little, ignited the Newport furnace - and the Exiles were level in the 33rd minute.
Ged Garner's low drive was deflected wide with Turner scrambling before a Joe Thomas corner, the second in rapid succession, sparked total mayhem in the Gillingham box, the ball eventually falling to Evans who gleefully lifted his effort high into the net from point-blank range.
Buoyant Newport were still seething over ignored penalty screams moments earlier, Ethan Coleman appearing to handle Sammy Braybrooke's shot in the area, referee Ross Martin rebuffing vitriolic home appeals.
The skies opened to Biblical proportion as both rivals battled the tempest and as the gripping tie swung pendulum-like, County's Courtney Baker-Richardson and skipper Lee Jenkins sickeningly clashed heads clearing Gills danger.
Jenkins reluctantly departed to be replaced by Akin Odimayo, But Hughes' warriors were springing forward. Garner's deft header drifted over, and borrowed Manchester United right back Habeeb Ogunneye's angled drive extended Turner at his near post, the stopper excelling again on 81 minutes to brilliantly foil Kai Whitmore.
It was a spectacular save from Turner in his 112th professional appearance, yet opposite number Wright eclipsed this as he breathtakingly clawed destroyer Sam Gale's powerful header to sanctuary in the fourth minute of 11 minutes added time.
County were appearing be gaining strength as the nerves jangled as we moved deep into extra time. Substitute Michael Reindorf so nearly scored before the dreadlocked Antwi did in the 110th minute, the midfielder steering past the distraught Turner's right hand from 12 yards.
Yet this amazing tie was to twist again two minutes from the end of extra time as Gills sub Seb Palmer-Houlden powered home an angled blast with Wright helpless - sending the tussle into a penalty shoot-out.
Newport County
Wright; Ogunneye, Jenkins, Evans, Thomas; Braybrooke, Antwi, Lloyd; Whitmore; Baker-Richardson, Garner
Bench
Tzanev
Glennan for Ogunneye 88 mins
Brennan
Kamwa for Whitmore 102 mins
Reindorf for Garner 94 mins
Odimayo for Jenkins 66 mins
Alexander-Walker
Harri Pugh
Myles McKensie
Gillingham
Turner; Hutton, Gale, Smith, Clark; McKenzie, Coleman, Little; Dack Andrews, Nevitt
Bench
Holtham
Rowe
Palmer-Houlden for Andrews 56 mins
Akomeah for McKenzie 103 mins
Wyllie
Vokes for Nevitt 81 mins]
Ogie
Khumbeni for Little 46 mins
Cirino for Dack 81 mins
Referee: Ross Martin, Assistants Darren Wilding, Oliver Taylor
Fourth Official: Ryan Saward
Attendance
2,096 [243 away fans]
