Gills left frustrated as AFC Wimbledon put bodies on the line to take a point from Priestfield.
Gillingham were held to a goalless draw at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday as they were unable to break a stubborn AFC Wimbledon defence.
The hosts almost won it in the dying seconds of stoppage time as a goal-line scramble caused trouble for the visitors. However, Gills could not find the back of the net.
After Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Plymouth, Neil Harris made two changes to his starting XI. Ben Reeves and Ryan Jackson came in for Tom Dickson-Peters and David Tutonda.
Max Ehmer had the first opportunity of the game in the fourth minute. Olly Lee’s corner was swung towards the back post and fell nicely for the centre-back. However, his effort was too close to Nik Tzanev, who saved with his legs.
Vadaine Oliver came close a few minutes later. Following some head tennis inside the visitors penalty area, it eventually sat nicely for Oliver to try his luck. He chose the speculative approach with a bicycle kick, but it went over the bar.
Gills continued their positive start, and it was Oliver with another opportunity. Ehmer lofted a ball towards the back post where the striker rose highest, but he could not hit the target with his header.
In the 15th minute, Sam Cosgrove had AFC Wimbledon’s first opportunity. A cross in from the right was positioned nicely for Cosgrove, but his header failed to find the target from 12 yards.
Ben Thompson had a good chance moments later. Gills did well to work it up the field before the former Millwall man received the ball inside the penalty area. He shot on the turn, but his powerful effort went wide of the near post.
There was a moment of panic for the Gills in the 34th minute. Aaron Chapman sliced his attempted clearance on the volley, and it fell nicely for Dapo Mebude. He tried to lob Chapman first time, but Ehmer was there to head away from inside the six-yard box. The second ball fell for Cosgrove, but he dragged his volley well wide of the target.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 AFC Wimbledon
Oliver had a golden chance to give Gillingham the lead five minutes into the second half. Thompson lofted a nice cross into the box, which Oliver ran onto. It was headed into the ground, and it beat Tzanev, but it also beat the post as it went inches wide.
Paul Osew had a good chance for the visitors in the 70th minute. They won possession off the hosts and countered with Cosgrove. He played it out wide to Osew, who ran into the box. He shot from a difficult position and missed the target.
In the 75th minute, Lee Brown forced Chapman into his first save of the game. AFC Wimbledon won a free-kick 30 yards from goal, and Brown tried his luck. It proved to be a simple save for the Gills keeper, who caught the ball.
Terry Ablade was brought on for Wimbledon and came close to scoring a sensational winner. The ball fell perfectly for him to try a bicycle kick, and he did exactly that. His effort had Gillingham's hearts in mouths as it crashed off the bar and went out for a goal kick.
Gills continued to apply late pressure as Thompson's goalward header was saved by Tzanev.
In the dying seconds, Gills almost found a winner. Thompson’s lofted ball into the six-yard box caused a goal-line scramble. Several players tried to stab it goalward before it sat for Robbie McKenzie. He tried to lift it towards the top corner but was unable to hit the target.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 AFC Wimbledon
Gillingham: Chapman, Jackson, Masterson, Ehmer, Tucker, McKenzie, O’Keefe, Thompson, Lee (Phillips 85’), Reeves (Kelman 67’), Oliver
Unused Substitutes: Dahlberg, Tutonda, Lintott, Maghoma, Dickson-Peters
AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Osew, Nightingale, Heneghan, Alexander, Marsh, Chislett (Ablade 787’), McCormick, Mebude, Cosgrove (Pressley 77’), Cosgrave (Brown 14’)
Unused Substitutes: Broome, Csoka, Kalambayi, Kalinauskas
Attendance: 4151 (604 AFC Wimbledon supporters)
Referee: Christopher Sarginson