Gillingham fell to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon in an eventful match-up on Saturday afternoon.

Despite a bright start for Steve Evans’ men, former Gillingham winger Scott Wagstaff, now the hosts’ captain, netted the only goal of the game, which ended in sour fashion with Ben Pringle seeing red late on as Gillingham pushed for an equaliser.

The Gills had won three competitive games in a row coming into the match, but Wimbledon were to prove a tough test as they continued to scrap in attempts to pull away from the bottom three.

Gillingham, full of confidence following three competitive wins in a row, came flying out of the blocks with Hanlan and Lee going close early on.

Early yellows for Connor Ogilvie and Mitch Pinnock would, though, pave the path of the game. We just didn’t know it at the time!

After the bookings, Gillingham continued to pepper Nathan Trott’s goal without really testing him. Brandon Hanlan had a tame effort saved before Mikael Mandron missed a good opportunity, and the Gills were made to pay for their missed chances when ex-Gill Wagstaff gave Wimbledon the lead after 19 minutes.

The home side built up in smart fashion, and another former Gillingham man, Callum Reilly, did well to pick out midfield partner Pinnock. Pinnock laid off Wagstaff well, and the winger stroked left-footed past Bonham to open the scoring, albeit against the run of play.

The game slowed down slightly after the goal, but Evans’ team remained on the front foot. Brandon Hanlan seemed to have the better of Paul Kalambayi all game, and he once again got round the outside of the centre-half well before seeing his latest effort blocked.

Mikael Mandron, back in the side after missing the mid-week clash against Sunderland through illness, missed a golden opportunity to level from a corner when the ball fell kindly to him a few yards from goal. He, though, mistimed his volley and made hardly any contact; a chance wasted.

Gillingham had a couple of penalty appeals turned down before half-time, most notably on Brandon Hanlan, but the home side went into the break the happier with a 1-0 lead.

Gillingham came out for the second-half with similar attacking intent – Brandon Hanlan missed a good ball through before a series of dangerous Tom O’Connor corners that, unfortunately for Gillingham, came to nothing.

Wimbledon soon realised they couldn’t settle on a 1-0 lead, and Jack Bonham was called into action for the first time since the goal as he tipped over an effort from, yes, another former Gill, Callum Reilly.

Hanlan then put wide maybe his best chance of the game just after 70 minutes when he cut inside on the left before bending an ambitious effort wide of the far post.

The forward saw another couple of opportunities go astray, and Joe Pigott skied an effort at the other end for the home side, before it all kicked off.

Referee Kevin Johnson seemed to lose control in the latter stages of the game – he gave a couple of clearly incorrect decisions against Gillingham in regards to goal and corner kicks, and the Gillingham players lost their heads.

Gillingham substitute Ben Pringle saw red in stoppage time for a reaction to one of Johnson’s decisions in what was a sour end to the game, and, ultimately, Steve Evans’ men fell to a 1-0 defeat on a wet, dark afternoon in Kingston.

Wimbledon: Trott, O’Neill, Wagstaff, Pinnock, Fross (Appiah 58), Delaney, Sanders, Kalambayi, Reilly, Osew, Pigott (Guinness-Walker 87).

Subs not used: McDonnell, Thomas, Hartigan, Rudoni, McLoughlin.

Goals: Wagstaff 19.

Gillingham: Bonham, O’Keefe (O’Connor 30), Ehmer, Ogilvie, Hanlan, Mandron, Fuller (Pringle 87), Jones, Byrne, Lee (Marshall 80), Tucker.

Subs not used: Walsh, Ndjoli, Charles-Cook, Jakubiak.

Goals: N/A.

Attendance: 4554 (645 away).

Referee: Mr. K. Johnson.