Robbie McKenzie’s second-half goal proved the difference as Gillingham were rewarded for their exceptional collective efforts in their 1-0 against MK Dons on Saturday afternoon.
The goal came just short of the hour when the hosts failed to clear a Gills corner. It was played back into the box for McKenzie, who shot on the turn with his left foot. His effort was straight at Tom McGill, with the ball going through his legs and into the back of the net.
The hosts did their best to find a way back into the game, but Gillingham stood firm, even keeping a goal line scramble out of the net during stoppage time, sending the 1009 travelling support home happy.
Aaron Rowe made his return to the starting XI after a long injury layoff. Harry Webster remained in the line-up after his impressive league debut in the 1-0 win against Salford City. Jack Nolan replaced Joe Gbode, who remained in concussion protocol after his collision in the previous fixture.
Scott Hogan had a glorious opportunity in the fifth minute. Aaron Nemane used his blistering pace to get in behind down the right wing before playing a low pass into Scott Hogan inside the penalty area. The striker was unmarked, with just Glenn Morris to beat. Fortunately, he scuffed his effort, spooning it into the air, with Morris plucking the floating ball and gathering with relative ease.
In the 18th minute, Nolan had a half-chance. Gills won possession near halfway, giving Nolan the opportunity to run forward. He carried the ball down the right side towards the penalty area before cutting inside onto his left foot and shooting. Unfortunately, the wide man, operating behind the striker, could not keep his strike down and it flew well over the crossbar.
Alex Gilbey misjudged his header after a Nemane cross towards the back post. The Milton Keynes captain had met the ball unmarked, with Hogan lying in wait across the six-yard box. It was unclear as to whether he was trying to hit the target or square it, as the ball cushioned off his head into the ground before Morris claimed.
Morris did brilliantly to deny Joe Pritchard on the half-hour mark. Pritchard capitalised on a slip at the back, putting him through one-on-one with the Gillingham goalkeeper. Morris timed his run off his line perfectly to close down the angle before pulling off a fantastic save.
The hosts were starting to apply more pressure as Max Ehmer produced a goal-saving challenge to deny Gilbey. Hogan played a cross into the box in the direction of the MK captain, who looked like he was going to have a free shot at goal, before Ehmer came sliding in to take the ball from his feet before Conor Masterson cleared his lines.
HALF-TIME: MK Dons 0-0 Gillingham
Hogan had the first chance of the second period. A long ball was played down the right, with the Milton Keynes forward battling with Ethan Coleman to win it. He got around Coleman before taking it into the box and shooting from a tight angle towards the near post. Morris had it covered as it nestled into the side netting.
Nolan nearly gave Gillingham the lead following a fine run from Masterson. The defender carried the ball from the edge of the Gills penalty area to the edge of the Milton Keynes box before being tackled. The loose ball came out to Rowe on the left, who brought the ball into the box before shooting. His effort was blocked, and it came to Nolan on the edge of the penalty area. He struck a low-driven shot towards the far bottom corner that was just pushed around the post for a corner.
Gillingham took the lead on 59 minutes. The resulting corner was cleared to the edge of the box before the ball was played back into Robbie McKenzie. He shot on the turn with a low-driven left-footed effort. It was straight at Tom McGill, who couldn't hold it, and the ball snuck through his legs and into the back of the net.
Immediately following the goal, the visitors made their first change, with Remeao Hutton replacing Webster.
Elliott Nevitt had a half-chance after good work from Rowe to keep a hold of possession. He played it into the forward, who shot on the turn inside the box, sending his effort over the crossbar.
Gills made two more substitutions with 20 minutes remaining, with Euan Williams and Shad Ogie coming on for Nolan and Rowe respectively.
Ehmer was inches away from possibly doubling the Gillingham advantage. The ball was played across the box in the direction of the Gills skipper, who had pulled away from his marker. Unfortunately, he could not make the definitive touch to send it goalward.
In the 81st minute, Gills made their final two changes, with Bradley Dack and Josh Andrews replacing Jayden Clarke and Nevitt.
Ellis Harrison, who had replaced Stephen Wearne, had a good opportunity. Nemane drilled a cross from the right to the centre of the box. Harrison got his timing wrong as he headed well wide of the target but was in an offside position with the linesman raising his flag.
In the third minute of stoppage time, the hosts somehow failed to score. Liam Kelly shot from the edge of the box, with the ball trickling towards the goal. What ensued was a full-blown goal-mouth scramble, with three MK players in waiting. Fortunately, Morris came out on top, as the ball came away from the goal before Gillingham were awarded a goal-kick.
FULL-TIME: MK Dons 0-1 Gillingham
MK Dons: McGill, Offord, Lawrence (Carroll 81’), Maguire, Nemane, White, Kelly, Pritchard (Hendry 65’), Wearne (Harrison 65’), Gilbey, Hogan
Unused Substitutes: MacGillivray, Lewington, Sherring, Thompson-Sommers,
Gillingham: Morris, Webster (Hutton 59’), Ehmer, Masterson, Clark, Coleman, McKenzie, Rowe (Ogie 69’), Nolan (E. Williams 69’), Clarke (Dack 81’), Nevitt (Andrews 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, J. Williams
Referee: Dale Baines
Attendance: 7191 1009 (Gillingham supporters)
