Gillingham’s remarkable run of wins and defeats continued at Priestfield as a last gasp tap-in from Conor Masterson won three hard earned points against AFC Wimbledon. 

Since losing to Notts County at the end of last month, it has been win, loss, win, loss, win and Saturday’s loss to Tranmere, so even against a side that the Gills have historically struggled against, the odds were on a home win! 

And on a night when the whole of the area around home base went dark because of a power cut, Stephen Clemence looked on as his side staged the late, late show to gain the points against one of The Gills’ bogey sides.

Going into the game, the home side had only ever won five of the nineteen games played between the two clubs, although incredibly post pandemic, the Wombles have now picked up one point from a possible twelve in Kent after ironically winning the last game played at Priestfield before “lockdown.” 

Max Ehmer’s return as skipper cannot be undervalued as Jake Turner kept his first clean sheet at home since the beginning of September – his nineth in all competitions – as Masterson reacted quickest to sub Macauley Bonne’s first touch to steer the ball past keeper Alex Bass to seal the points as the clock ticked just past ten o’clock.

In all there were twenty-four minutes of “additional time” because of a power outage that sent the players from the pitch and the whole of Gillingham North plunged into darkness. 

Tom Nichols was robbed when well-placed early on and Jake Reeves sent the visitors’ best early chance over the top.

Omar Bugiel flashed a centre across the face of Turner’s goal without a single touch and Armani Little fired over after Turner had punched a corner clear as the first half drifted towards half time. 

Clemence must have had a few “words” at the break as the home side started the second period so much better, and from a Connor Mahoney centre, Ehmer flighted a header towards the back post where Ethan Coleman just could not get the touch to force the ball over the line. 

Gillingham’s improvement was then halted as the lights went out with twenty-five minutes left, causing a twenty-four-minute delay! 

The game restarted with the visitor’s best chance of the night. Turner was beaten to a corner and fortunately Ehmer was able to deny the Wimbledon forwards until his keeper was able to fall on the ball! 

Sub George Lapslie somehow managed to get on the end of a Mahoney cross as the Gills broke from a corner but sadly sent his header straight at the keeper, whilst Ali Al-Hamadi was inches away from putting the visitors into the lead with a shot that beat Turner but came back to safety off the inside of the keeper’s left post. 

Gills were awarded a free kick with five minutes of stoppage time left and Clemence made a change that disappointed a few of the faithful as Bonne came on for Mahoney, but as Jonny Williams’ dead ball fell into the box, the doubters became praisers as Bonne nodded down for Masterson to win the game. 

The win lifts the Gills back into the Play Off places and gives the squad just the boost needed with the “A2” derby in the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup up next… 

GILLINGHAM – Turner, Alexander, Ehmer, Masterson, Malone, Coleman, Dieng (Lapslie 58), Jefferies, Jayden Clarke (Jonny Williams 58), Mahoney (Bonne 83), Nichols (Nadesan 73).

Subs not used – Morris, Max Clark, Ogie.

Goal: Masterson (85).

AFC WIMBLEDON – Bass, Ogundere (Sasu 92), Lewis, Johnson, Currie, Reeves, Tilley (Neufville 70), Little, Lemonheigh-Evans (Ball 92), Al-Hamadi, Buigel (Davison 86). 

Subs not used – Tzanev, Brown, Pearce.

Booked: Tilley (43).

REFEREE – Mr Lee Swabey 

Attendance: 5747

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.