Matty Stevens scored the only goal of the game as Gillingham ended 2024 with a 1-0 defeat at the Cherry Red Records Stadium against AFC Wimbledon.
Academy graduate Sam Gale made his first start for the Football Club, starting in a back three, as Mark Bonner made three changes to the side that lost at Colchester United on Boxing Day.
Bradley Dack made his first league start since returning to Gillingham in the summer. Armani Little made his return to the starting XI following an injury. Aaron Rowe, Jack Nolan, Tim Dieng and Joe Gbode were named among the substitutes.
Gills started the opening minutes on top, with multiple corners played into the AFC Wimbledon penalty area. Conor Masterson had the best opportunity. Elliott Nevitt’s cross from the right found the head of the defender, with his attempt looping up into the air. Masterson eventually managed to bring the ball under his control before getting a shot away. Unfortunately, a home player got a strong foot in front of it to send it wide of the target.
The opening half-hour saw neither goalkeeper tested. Wimbledon started to take control of the possession, but Gillingham were happy to hold their shape, limiting their hosts to next to nothing. The closest AFC Wimbledon came was when Matty Stevens sliced a first-time effort from ten yards out well wide of the target.
Glenn Morris produced a massive save in the 37th minute. A looping cross into the box was not dealt with, as it bounced around the Gillingham six-yard box before dropping to Stevens to head goalward. Morris had to react quickly, getting across to claw the ball away from the goal before getting up immediately to gather the loose ball.
HALF-TIME: AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Stevens gave the hosts the lead five minutes into the second period. James Tilley curled a corner from the right towards the six-yard box, which Stevens met, bundling the ball into the back of the net.
Jayden Clarke had a half-chance after 62 minutes. Dack saw his initial corner headed back to him before he floated a second cross towards the six-yard box. It was cleared as far as Clarke, who hit a left-footed volley goalward. However, he did not make full contact with it, as Owen Goodman made a routine save.
In the 64th minute, the visitors made two changes. The first saw Rowe replace Gale, who had been previously yellow carded. The second substitution was forced, as Masterson came off with an apparent knock, and he was replaced by Shad Ogie.
Little forced Goodman into a save after Dack won a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty area. The ball was positioned to the left of the centre, which Little curled around the wall towards the far corner. However, Goodman had it covered, getting across to push the ball away from the danger before Wimbledon won a free-kick.
Gills nearly capitalised on hesitant defending from their hosts as they failed to deal with a long ball forward. Rowe sprinted ahead to latch onto the loose ball before attempting to take it beyond take it beyond Goodman. However, the Wimbledon goalkeeper did well in making the crucial tackle before putting the ball out of play.
There were two more Gillingham changes with a little over ten minutes remaining. Dieng and Gbode entered the game for Dack and Nevitt.
In the final minute, Nolan replaced Clark.
Rowe tried his luck from distance as the visitors went in search of a last-gasp equaliser. He was allowed to run towards the box before shooting, watching his floating effort palmed behind for a corner.
FULL-TIME: AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham
AFC Wimbledon: Goodman, Reeves, O’Toole (Ogundere 46’), Johnson, Tilley, Kelly (Furlong 90’), Neufville, Smith, Stevens, Sawyers (Sasu 73’), Harbottle (Hutchinson 80’)
Unused Substitutes: Ward, Biler, Pigott
Gillingham: Morris, Masterson (Ogie 64’), Ehmer, Gale (Rowe 64’), Clarke, Coleman, McKenzie, Little, Clark (Nolan 89’), Dack (Dieng 79’), Nevitt (Gbode 80’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, J. Williams
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Attendance: 8281