Gillingham were soundly beaten at home by Milton Keynes Dons on Tuesday night – as fans voiced their displeasure.
The Gills conceded three goals in 18 first-half minutes. Alex Gilbey, Gethin Jones and Marvin Ekpiteta scored in the opening half and Ben Wiles added a fourth early in the second. Seb Palmer-Houlden got a goal back for the Gills late on but Liam Kelly bagged a fifth for the visitors.
Milton Keynes also struck the woodwork twice in the win, as the Gills continue to stumble towards the end of the season, with 10 more games left to play.
It’s the third team since the start of the year to beat the Gills at Priestfield by three goals or more.
Gillingham had the daunting task of facing the promotion-chasers and the division’s top scorers, with 10 senior players unavailable. The difference in class showed.
Robbie McKenzie and Sam Gale were missing following the weekend match against Fleetwood, and striker Josh Andrews also sat it out after picking up a 10th booking in that game.
It meant more minutes for recalled pair Shad Ogie and Jonny Williams, who was making his 100th appearance for the club, while Euan Williams got another start. Teenagers Michael Luxton and Louie Dayal were recalled from a loan at Sheppey United to fill up the bench.
The Gills had gone from looking okay numbers-wise a week previously to struggling for players. Many of those missing were because of muscle strains, which will be of concern. They lost another in this match as Ethan Coleman limped off in the second half.
Max Clark took the captain’s armband and the Gills started brightly enough, with Seb Palmer-Houlden forcing a save from keeper Crig MacGillivray, but MK were better in all areas.
The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes. Ogie had a battle for the ball with Aaron Collins and when the ball ran loose, Gilbey lifted the ball over Jake Turner for the opener.
Ogie and Collins continued to battle it out and the Gills defender needed to make a timely tackle to prevent the striker from getting another shot away at goal.
There was frustration for the Gills when Hale looked to have been put in the clear, only for referee Harry Wager to stop play for a foul on Aaron Rowe.
Euan Williams had a shot blocked for the Gills and Remeao Hutton had one saved but the Gills always looked vulnerable at the other end.
Giving the ball away frequently wasn’t helping their cause.
Gethin Jones made it 2-0 on 26 minutes, picking out the far corner with a shot across Turner. The Gills had been outnumbered down the side and Jones had been played in with a well-timed pass from Ben Wiles.
MK had a third goal on 33 minutes when Marvin Ekpiteta headed home from Liam Kelly’s free-kick. Gills fans responded with chants of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt.”
The Gills responded with efforts from Euan Williams, Jonny Williams and a lob from Hale that went narrowly wide, but MK were coasting, and Gilbey cracked an effort off the top of the crossbar just before the break.
Gillingham were booed off as they went in at the interval.
With six minutes of the second half played, MK had a fourth. Turner couldn’t hold onto Aaron Collins’ shot and Wiles followed up to score.
Wiles came close to scoring again moments later with a shot that came off the upright.
There was the lowest crowd of the season in for the game, but the home fans made their feelings perfectly clear.
More displeasure was voiced when lively striker Ronan Hale was taken off with 55 minutes played.
At 4-0 down, the Gills boss switched to a back five, but the damage had already been done.
An offside flag denied Sam Vokes a goal after his header from Jonny Williams’ free-kick looped into the net.
Gillingham midfielder Ethan Coleman joined the injury list late in the game as he went off with a problem. Luxton came off the bench to make his first senior appearance for the club.
The Gills managed to pull a goal back on 77 minutes. Lenni Cirino crossed and when Vokes’ header was blocked on the line, Palmer-Houlden was on hand to crash in the rebound.
A flowing move from the Dons led to their fifth goal in the 87th minute. Scott Hogan found Wiles, and he fed the ball to Kelly, who stroked it home.
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton (Akomeah 55mins), Clark (Cirino 69mins), A Smith, Ogie, Coleman (Luxton 76mins), J Williams, E Wiliams (Khumbeni 69mins), Rowe, Palmer-Houlden, Hale (Vokes 55mins). Subs not used: Morris, Dayal.
MK Dons: MacGillvray, Offord (Tomlinson 78mins), Ekpiteta, Sanders, Mellish, Jones (Nemane 89mins), Wiles (Leko 89mins), Gilbey, Kelly, Crowley (Hogan 46mins), Collins (Evans 62mins). Subs not used: Trueman, Nemane, Burke.
Referee: Harry Wager
Attendance: 4,786 (186 away)
