Gills Joy as Dons Defeated
MK Dons traveled to Gillingham who hadn't registered a home win this season. The Dons traveled to Kent without Antony Kay, Dean Bowditch, Dele Alli and George Baldock in a mounting injury list for Karl Robinson's side. Gillingham, managed by ex-Dons boss Martin Allen, included ex AFC Wimbledon front man Danny Kedwell alongside former Wimbledon loanee Steven Gregory and former Peterborough players Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale in his starting eleven at the Priestfield.
The games first incident came after just 6 minutes. Winger Danny Green in his last appearance in an MK Dons shirt tumbled under pressure but was deemed too easily by referee James Linnington who swiftly held his yellow card aloft in Green's direction.
10 minutes in Kedwell was straight into the action, Cody McDonald's twisting run stopped unfairly by a flying Tom Flanagan looking to prove himself in Kay's absence and not going the best way about it. Kedwell stepped up and calmly slotted past Martin to his delight in front of the Gillingham faithful. 1-0.
Within 2 minutes and things went from bad to a lot worse. Flanagan's sloppy pass cut out as Charlie Lee sent McDonald clean through. For the second time Flanagan was adjudged to have brought the ex-Coventry and Norwich striker down to the Dons disbelief and Linnington flashed his red card to bring Flanagan's nightmare 13 minutes to an end. The ex-Gilingham loanee was dismissed on his first league appearance this season. Kedwell once again stepped up to powerfully fire the ball past Martin to leave the Dons with big problems.
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| Flanagan dismissed |
The Stadium:MK outfit were 2-0 down and a man down. 75 minutes to go and a mountain to climb.
Robinson replaced Samir Carruthers and Lee Hodson with Alan Smith and Izale McLeod as MK went for 3 at the back to throw all they had at Martin Allen's side.
10 minutes of attacking exchanges saw Danny Green standing over a free kick wide out on the Dons right. His perfect delivery dropped onto top scorer Patrick Bamford's head and he duly converted off the bar to give the visitors a lifeline and get them back into the game as 343 traveling supporters seeked an equaliser.
4 minutes later, on the half hour mark, Bamford was at it again. Shaun Williams accurate long ball forward was beautifully controlled on the 20-Year old's right thigh and slotted through Stuart Nelson's legs for his second and to bring MK Dons level.
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| Bamford into double figures |
In a game of end to end attacks, Gillingham were next to try their luck. The smallest man on the pick Charlie Lee left in acres of space by the Dons rearguard but Martin was there to tip his point blank header over the crossbar and keep Robinson's side in it.... just.
The final chance of the half saw substitute McLeod put through down the right but the striker couldn't convert as he sent the ball past Nelson's right hand post which saw an exciting first half come to a close at 2-2.
The second half somewhat calmed down and not until the hour mark was there any chance of note. Clever build up down the right saw a fragile Dons back three vulnerable to any attack from which the Gills profited. The cross sent over towards summer signing Danny Hollands. He climbed high and Martin was unable to keep out his powerful header as Hollands scored his first Gillingham goal and the Kent side were back on top.
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| David Martin spent the last 20 minutes injured. |
The Dons have built a reputation under Robinson for their slick passing and the men in blue were about to find out why. Keepy-ups from Potter that would have looked fitting in South America saw the former Liverpool trainee volley the ball over to McLeod. McLeod floated the ball over to Bamford but for the second time in 2 games was denied a hat trick by a smart save by Nelson at the far post to push the ball out for a corner.
The Dons continued on their late rally, the impressive McLeod beating defenders before firing his low, left footed shot inches past the post. That was to be the last chance in a brilliant advert for League One football.
MK Dons return to MK1 empty handed as they suffered their second league defeat of the season meanwhile the determined Gillingham pick up their first back to back wins since April. The visiting support left to wonder what could have been if only they'd kept hold of 11 men for 90 minutes. Dons travel to Stevenage
on Tuesday for a second round JPT tie.
Gillingham:
1. Stuart Nelson 3. Joe Martin 5. Callum Davies 7. Chris Whelpdale 9. Danny Kedwell 10. Cody McDonald (11. Myles Weston) 12. Steven Gregory 18. Charlie Lee 19. Danny Hollands 23. Michael Harriman 26. Adam Barrett
Subs not used: 21. George Howard 4. Amine Linganzi 6. Leon Legge 8. Adebayo Akinfenwa 14. Charlie Allen 15. Bradley Dack
Goals: Kedwell 11' (pen) 13' (pen) Hollands 59'
Booked: Martin, Lee
MK Dons:
1. David Martin 3. Dean Lewington 4. Tom Flanagan 5. Lee Hodson (13. Izale McLeod) 6. Shaun Williams 7. Stephen Gleeson 8. Darren Potter 10. Luke Chadwick (17. Daniel Powell) 15. Patrick Bamford 22. Samir Carruthers (11. Alan Smith) 23. Danny Green
Subs not used: 16. Ian McLoughlin 2. Jon Otsemobor 12. Ben Reeves 21. Jason Banton
Goals: Bamford 26' 30'
Booked: Lewington, Williams
Off: Flanagan
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