With injury problems mounting Mark Stimson named an unfamiliar line-up against former Gill Tim O'Shea's Ryman Division One South side.
Tom Wynter, Jack Payne and Luis Cumbers were the only senior pros on view while French trialists Alsseny Cissoko and Charles Mallmann debuted in central defence and centre midfield.
Gillingham's youngsters made a bright start but failed to register a shot on target until the 25th minute when Liam Geering's right wing free kick was headed by Rance for Cissoko but the centre-half's acrobatic overhead kick was easily gathered by Ross Flitney in the Croydon goal.
On the half hour mark Dean Rance was involved again setting up Cumbers for a shot from distance which brought a good stop from Flitney.
Moments later the Gills were in front, Rimmel Daniel's powered down the left and cut into the box before crossing low for Luis Cumbers to finish from close range.
Within a minute Daniel could have doubled the lead, he beat the offside trap to race onto a long punt upfield and chipped the oncoming keeper only to see his effort bounce agonisingly wide.
With half time approaching Croydon unsettled the Gills back four when Nathan Greene's ferocious cross fizzed across the area. Wynter managed to put it behind and from the resulting corner Jeremy Williams rose well to head into the arms of Conor Quinn.
The Rams ended the half strongly and were unfortunate not to open their account on the stroke of half time, Karl Murray's deep free kick from the right was met by Bradley Duke, his looping header beat Quinn but bounced behind off the stantion.
HT 0-1
Straight from the restart Gillingham were punished when substitute Chris O'Flaherty was unceremoniously bundled over in the box. Gary Noel's spot kick was high to Quinn's left to sqaure the scores in the 48th minute
In the 53rd minute Luis Cumbers broke through on goal but an excellent last ditch tackle took the sting out of his shot which was comfortably gathered by Ross Flitney.
Substitutions broke up some of the momentum of the match but the Gills youngsters continued to spray the ball around with confidence though their movement lacked purpose in attack.
Croydon were strong on the break and almost added a second in the 72nd minute when goalscorer Noel got goalside of the defence before flashing a low drive inches wide of the far post.
Three minutes later the Rams were in front after Jack Payne was penalised on the edge of the area. Danny Waldren's thunderous free kick came back off the crossbar leaving Ben Godfrey to head home from six yards.
Ten minutes from time Waldren hit another wicked free kick which cannoned to safety off the base of Quinn's right hand upright. Then in the 88th minute Bolarinwa lashed a rasping effort wide from the right side of the box.
Just as the fans were heading for the exits Josh Sargeant's speculative effort from 25 yards crashed in at the near post to earn the Gills a deserved draw.
Gillingham: Conor Quinn, Oliver Bartrum, Tom Wynter, Alsseny Cissoko (56 Emmanuel Udoji), Nathan Ashton, Liam Geering (56 Theo) Dean Rance, Jack Payne, Charles Mallmann (64 Josh Sargeant), Rimmel Daniel, Luis Cumbers (73 Tom Murphy).
Subs not used: Connor Essam, Callum Davies, Callum Day, Daran Hawkes.
Croydon Athletic: Ross Flitney, Joe Howe (80 Jamie Warren), Nathan Greene (85 Neil Smith), Karl Murray, Richard Blackwell (4 Neil Smith, 23 Brad Duke), Jeremy Williams, Eoma Lambu (46 Chris O'Flaherty), Chris Piper, (46 Danny Waldren) Gary Noel, Ben Godfrey (78 Danny Moody), Dwaine Clarke (46 Tom Bolarinwa)
