A much improved second half performance and goals from Seb Palmer-Houlden and Jonny Williams were not enough to prevent defeat away at MK Dons this lunchtime.

The Gills made three changes to the starting eleven, with Ethan Coleman, Shad Ogie and Aaron Rowe replacing Jonny Smith, Bradley Dack and Max Clark.

In the first half the performance from the Gills wasn’t good and it could be argued they were missing the influence of manager Gareth Ainsworth.

The hosts went ahead in the sixth minute of the game, when Callum Paterson’s long throw eventually came back out to him before he curled a dangerous cross towards the six-yard box. Morris got a hand on it to take it off the head of one attacker, but it dropped perfectly to Maguire, who sent the ball towards goal, where Same Gale tried to clear but sliced into his own net.

Things weren’t going well for the Gills and a poor pass was cut out by Mendez-Laing. He played it across to Will Collar, who shot first time, but he the connection was not great and his effort went wide.

The Gills really didn’t create much, but a half chance fell to Andy Smith but he couldn’t direct an effort goal wards.

MK Dons looked dangerous every time they pressed forward with Paterson firing wide, and Aaron Nemane shot straight at Glenn Morris when he had time and space to do much more.

Whatever Assistant Richard Dobson said at half time had an effect as the Gills were much improved in the second half.

Coleman had the first chance of the second half when he rose highest to meet a Williams freekick but his header went just over the bar.

Captain Robbie McKenzie had the next chance when he was denied by Craig MacGillivray soon after. Hutton played a first time pass down the right, which Elliott Nevitt chased down, he then slotted the ball into McKenzie ran onto the pass, shooting first time, but his attempt was parried away by MacGillivray before the ball went out for a corner.

With the Gills pressing MK Dons doubled their advantage just before the hour mark. A poor clearance was ceased upon by Mendez-Laing cutting onto his left foot before firing into the far bottom corner, leaving Morris with no chance.

It really should have been three shortly after when the Gills were caught up field. Mendez-Laing had two runners in the middle and found Liam Kelly inside the box. The midfielder was in acres of space, but sent his effort wide of the near post. 

It wasn’t long before it was 3-0, Collar went on a run and cut into the Gills penalty area before squaring it for Paterson, who slid the ball into the back of the net from a few yards out.

Williams could and should have pulled a goal back when he got in behind the Milton Keynes defence after a long ball forward. Unfortunately, with an MK Dons defender at his back, he struck the ball over the crossbar.

With 15 minutes to go the Gills got a foothold in the game, when Palmer-Houlden scored his first Gillingham goal. Rowe who had largely had a poor game, sent a low-driven ball right across the six yard box, which found Palmer-Houlden, who hammered the ball home from a few yards out.

They got a second in injury time with Williams getting his first goal of the season. Gale put an excellent ball into the box which found Williams, he took a touch and fired into the back of the net.

MK Dons: MacGillivray, Offord, Ekpiteta, Maguire (Thompson 87), Nemane, Collar (Thompson-Sommers 83), Kelly (Crowley 83), Gilbey, Mellish, Mendez-Laing (Leko 87), Paterson

Unused Substitutes: Trueman, Tripp

Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Smith, Gale, Ogie (Cirino 77), Rowe (Clark 77), McKenzie, Coleman, J. Williams, Andrews (Vokes 65), Nevitt (Palmer-Houlden 65)

Unused Substitutes: Turner, Akomeah, Khumbeni

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC

Referee: Darren Drysdale 

Attendance: 7646 (1375 Gillingham supporters)