After having been stuck on the same points for seven weeks, Gillingham returned to action with a tough battling goalless draw at Stadium MK against the Dons.
After five straight defeats and then games ruled out by COVID, Steve Evans was able to welcome bodies back to his squad with Jamie Cumming, Vadaine Oliver and Max Ehmer starting again after COVID and injury, and skipper Kyle Dempsey fit enough for a place on the bench against a home side trying to stay in touch with the Play Off places at a venue where Gillingham had lost their last four visits.
In a game that was tight from start to finish, clear chances were few and far between and the home side had the “best” of the opening half with the clearest coming in the final minutes of the half as Cumming did well to readjust his feet to deal with Harry Darling’s deflected effort on 41 minutes before on the stroke of half time, Scott Twine fired wide of goal.
After the break, the Gills began to create something going forward and Stuart O’Keefe saw an effort blocked after Jack Tucker and Robbie McKenzie combined. Just past the hour, Tucker was again the provider – this time for McKenzie – but his shot was the wrong side of the Dons’ post with the keeper struggling.
Moments later, the Gills were left ruing their luck as O’Keefe seemed to be impeded in the box, but referee Breakspear was having none of the appeals and waved them away!
It could have yet finished so badly for the Gills however as once again they were indebted to their on-loan Chelsea keeper. Cumming being in the right place at the right time to superbly touch over Twine’s 89th minute pile driver.
Another seven days for the recovering Gills squad before they host the rearranged Boxing Day game with Ipswich Town at Priestfield’s first game of 2022, and hopefully more bodies – both recovering and maybe even new as the transfer window is now open – and hopefully the club’s first triumph since mid-October.
MK DONS – Fisher, Lewington, O’Hora, Darling, O’Riley, Twine, Eisa (Robson 65), McEachran (David Kasumu 72), Parrott (Brown 86), Harvie, Kioso.
Subs not used – Ravizzoli, Watson, Jules, Boateng.
Booked: Harvie (24).
GILLINGHAM – Cumming, Jackson, Bennett, Ehmer, McKenzie, Tucker, Phillips, O’Keefe, Carayol, Lloyd (Reeves 77), Oliver (Tutonda 63).
Subs not used – Chapman, Lintott, Dempsey, Lee, Sithole.
Booked: McKenzie (16), Carayol (45), Ehmer (61), Phillips (87).
REFEREE – Mr Charles Breakspear
Attendance: 7,891 (420 Gills).