Connor Ogilvie fired home a winner for Gillingham to settle an exciting contest against MK Dons.

Gillingham conceded after a sluggish start but Jordan Graham levelled from the penalty spot and Vadaine Oliver put them infront before MK Dons equalised deep into first half stoppage time. Connor Ogilvie rifled the ball home in the 74th minute to restore Gills’ lead and win the game.

Gillingham boss Steve Evans named an unchanged team for the visit of an improving MK Dons side but they took some time to get into the game.

The Gills kicked off but from then on MK played keep-ball before finding the net in the fourth minute, Scott Fraser playing in Will Grigg and the striker finished well past Jack Bonham.

Milton Keynes had around 95% of the possession in the opening 10 minutes but an injury to Ryan Jackson allowed the Gills to regroup. Messages were relayed, the shape was changed and the tempo improved.

When the Gills started chasing after the ball MK started making mistakes.

Chances started to fall for the Gills and Kyle Dempsey shrugged off an early knock to go close with a shot.

From a Ryan Jackson throw the Gills were handed a lifeline, Stuart O’Keefe won a header, there was a handball in the box and Graham confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the roof of the net with 28 minutes gone.

Gillingham took a 44th minute lead when a poor defensive header from Andrew Surman was capitalised on by Oliver and he fired home.

There were six minutes of added-on time and the Gills came close to extending their lead, Graham shooting wide and Oliver hitting a low shot into the arms of keeper Andrew Fisher.

In the sixth minute of stoppage-time MK levelled. Gillingham were unhappy that the home side were awarded a corner but when the played it short, Grigg managed to get a cross in with Tommy O’Connor caught out and Warren O’Hara converted.

Evans picked up his seventh caution of the season after having words with referee Sam Purkiss when the teams walked off.

Gillingham began the second half on the front foot as but Surman blasted a good chance over for the visitors. An angled shot from Cameron Jerome was also saved following a good run and pass from Ethan Laird.

Visiting keeper Andrew Fisher tipped over a long-range effort from Olly Lee with around 20 minutes left.

The Gills went 3-2 ahead with 16 minutes left when Jackson’s long throw was only half cleared and Ogilvie smashed the ball home.

MK looked to respond and Matt O’Riley missed the target with a couple of chances while Fraser had an effort blocked as Gillingham defended well in the latter stages. O'Riley tried to pick out the top corner in stoppage-time but Bonham turned the shot over.

Gillingham: Bonham, Jackson, Ogilvie, Tucker, Cundy, Dempsey, O’Keefe, O’Connor, Lee (McKenzie 84mins), Graham, Oliver (Akinde 86mins). Subs not used: Bastien, Johnson, Woods, Willock, Morton.

MK Dons: Fisher, Laird, Lewington (Brown 90mins), Darling, O’Hora, Jules (Sorinola 79mins), Surman (McEachran 73mins), O’Riley, Fraser, Grigg (Houghton 73mins), Jerome (Mason 73mins). Subs not used: Nicholls, Gladwin.

Referee: Sam Purkiss