MK Dons 2 Gillingham 1: League 2 match report from Stadium MK - MJ Williams and Alex Gilbey score for hosts before Josh Walker nets on Gills debut

Gillingham created plenty of openings at MK Dons but their inability to make it count cost them in the League 2 clash.

A flurry of chances in the second half came to nothing for Gillingham after another opening 45 minutes without scoring. Gills were made to pay for those misses as MJ Williams and Alex Gilbey struck for the hosts before debutant Josh Walker got one back for the Gills.

Gillingham had a new forward in their ranks following the arrival on loan of Josh Walker but head coach Stephen Clemence went for Ashley Nadesan to provide the pace alongside Oli Hawkins in attack from the off.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the afternoon either striker wanted. Nadesan went another game without a goal - now 21 since scoring - while Hawkins’ game ended early as he limped off before the break.

Before the weekend, Clemence had described the match as their biggest challenge since his appointment, facing an in-form opposition sitting sixth in the table - two places and three points better off than the Gills.

Clemence’s side was the better of the two early on and MK’s insistence on playing it out from the back almost cost them. Connor Mahoney should have punished them after five minutes when the Gills won it off them in their own box.

Nadesan also blocked a clearance from the keeper as the hosts looked to replicate top-flight football tactics without top-flight players.

MK bossed possession by some distance but the Gills continued to have the best of the openings. Keeper Filip Marschall produced a good save low down as Hawkins met a Remeao Hutton cross at the back stick, the downward header directed towards the bottom corner.

Dom Jefferies was back in the side following injury and he also tested the keeper.

For the hosts, Jack Payne