Connor Ogilvie’s uncanny knack of scoring important goals in front of the Rainham End once again sealed a come from behind win for Gillingham as the MK Dons were edged in a five-goal thriller on a murky Tuesday night at Priestfield.
The defender, who recently scored THAT incredible volley at The Valley, was again in the right place at the right time to meet a defensive clearance from Ryan Jackson’s long throw to thunder the ball past a motionless Dons keeper Andrew Fisher to seal the three points for Steve Evans’ side.
Evans had admitted his frustration that his side had returned from Portsmouth at the weekend with just a point and showed faith with the same eleven meaning that Stuart O’Keefe kept his place after completing his first full game since returning from injury at Fratton Park.
The Gills boss had conceded this week that Sunderland’s Will Grigg had been a prime transfer target before his recent move to Milton Keynes and he took less than five minutes to show Evans what the Gills had missed out on as he drive a low shot beyond Jack Bonham and into the bottom corner.
Another Jackson long throw led to the Gills equaliser as it caused chaos in the box on the half hour when Brian O’Hora handled and Jordan Graham resumed the spot kick duties, duly ramming the penalty into the roof of the net as Fisher dived to his left.
The Gills led at the break when for the second game running Vadaine Oliver capitalised on some very poor defending – from Bonham’s booming goal kick – to coolly curl the ball past a despairing Fisher for his tenth goal of the season.
The visitors though were level in first half stoppage time when Grigg turned provider for O’Hora – who went from villain to hero for the Dons – as he turned home the striker’s cut back from a well worked corner down the right-hand side.
Andrew Surman and Cameron Jerome both had chances to put the visitors back in front early on in the second period before Fisher kept the Gills at bay with an incredible save at the other end. Tom O’Connor and Olly Lee combined brilliantly, and it was the Hearts loanee who turned his man superbly before his spectacular drive was magnificently saved by Fisher as the ball was arrowing towards the top corner.
Ogilvie’s winner came just fourteen minutes from time and secured The Gills three more points and also meant that for just the third time this strange and frustrating season, Gillingham had secured back-to-back League wins at Priestfield.
Yet it was so nearly “just” another home point in stoppage time as this time it was Bonham’s turn to excel when the Gills keeper made an outstanding save of his own to keep out Matt O’Reily’s curling effort. Shortly after the final whistle confirmed the points were staying at Priestfield.
It’s the home form struggles that have arguably been one of the biggest disappointments this campaign, but if this up turn can continue when troubled Ipswich Town come to Kent on Saturday, then maybe, just maybe, the dream of a run to the Play Offs could still be on the cards.
But before the faithful get too excited, Gillingham have only ever beaten the Suffolk side twice in 25 meetings – and never at Priestfield!
GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Cundy, Ogilvie, O’Keefe, Dempsey, Graham, Lee (McKenzie 84), O’Connor, Oliver (Akinde 86).
Subs not used: Bastien, Morton, Willock, Woods, Johnson.
Goals: Graham (pen 28), Oliver (44), Ogilvie (74).
MK DONS – Fisher, O’Hora, Darlin, Lewington (Brown 90), Jules (Sorinola 79), Surman (McEachran 73), Laird, O’Riley, Fraser, Jerome (Mason 73), Grigg (Houghton)
Subs not used: Nicholls, Gladwin, Brown.
Goals: Grigg (4), (O’Hora 45).
Referee – Mr Purkiss
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.