Matty Stevens' 12th goal of season earns Wimbledon victory
Suspicion of handball over winner in final EFL game of 2024
Wimbledon jump six places to second with win
Gillingham stay 13th after fourth defeat in seven matches
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham
Sam Parkin
Former Swindon forward, summarising on Sky Sports
Gillingham won't be happy about it... it [the handball] looks more and more obvious the more you see it. There's a slight appeal but it's a laboured one.
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham
That's also AFC Wimbledon's 12th goal from a set-piece this season, albeit Matty Stevens looked to have used his arm to score it.
Only Bromley (14) have scored more goals from set plays than Wimbledon.
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham
Wimbledon have won nine of 10 games when scoring first so far this season… they drew the other one.
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham
Ben Watts
BBC Radio Kent Gillingham commentator
Image source, Rex FeaturesThat's his 12th of the season and a hammer blow for Mark Bonner after his half-time team-talk.
We said earlier AFC Wimbledon don't drop points when they take the lead, and now they have it...
Matty Stevens (50 mins)
Breakthrough for AFC Wimbledon! And who else but Matty Stevens?
An excellent corner comes in from James Tilley from the right and Stevens makes a run to the near post to guide it in from close range.
It looks very much like Stevens used his upper right arm to divert it home, but the goal stands!
That's goal number 12 of the season for Wimbledon's top goalscorer.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Peter Lloyd
BBC Radio Kent's Gillingham summariser
It'll be interesting to see how long Bradley Dack goes here. He's not played a lot of football.
The home side have a real opportunity to get into second place if they can get a right result here and I'm sure that point will have been made to them at half-time.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Another player making their first start tonight is Romaine Sawyers for AFC Wimbledon.
The midfielder, released by Cardiff in the summer, joined the Dons earlier this month.
Image source, Rex FeaturesAFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Josh Kelly wastes no time in getting forward for Wimbledon at the start of the second half, driving down the left.
But young full-back Sam Gale does well on his Gillingham debut to usher it out of play for a goal-kick.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
John-Joe O’Toole has been taken off at half-time for Wimbledon after reportedly picking up a knock. He was the man involved in the potential penalty incident for the visitors in that first half.
He's been replaced by Isaac Ogundere.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Off we go again at Plough Lane. Will we see a goal in this second half? It could prove to be a massive one if either side can grab it.
HT: AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Jason Euell
Former AFC Wimbledon midfielder, on Sky Sports
Gillingham should have had a penalty 100%. John-Joe O'Toole wrestles Conor Masterson around the neck.
The referee turns his head, he should have kept his eye on them, he'd already spoken to them, but the linesman is on that side and should be communicating that should be a penalty.
The main thing for Gillingham is to keep themselves in the game.
HT: AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Gillingham had a strong claim for a penalty in that first half when Wimbledon defender John-Joe O'Toole grappled with Conor Masterson in his own penalty area.
It would've almost certainly gone to VAR if we had it in League Two. Safe to say Jason Euell thinks it should've been given...
HT: AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Peter Lloyd
BBC Radio Kent Gillingham summariser
I think Gills had a really good, high-energy start to the game and won a series of corners. The big moment of threat was a huge block from a Conor Masterson shot.
At the other end one save from Glenn Morris, who got away well to his left to get a palm to it.
The first half has been characterised by a lot of hard work, most of it in the middle of the pitch. The defenders have been on top.
I think Gillingham would take that first half, even though it wasn't pretty. They are decent value for being on level terms.
At the moment it is looking very one-goalish, either way.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Image source, Rex FeaturesGoalless at the break. Chances have been few and far between in truth.
Gillingham started brightly before AFC Wimbledon took control of possession for the remainder of the half without either threatening to break the deadlock.
The best opening of the game fell to Matty Stevens who saw his header from a half-chance about 10 yards out well saved by Gills keeper Glenn Morris.
Work to do for the hosts if they want to break into the automatic promotion spots. Likewise for the visitors to keep touch with the play-off places.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Just the one added minute at the end of the half to be played.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Plenty of milestones for Gillingham players tonight. Conor Masterson is making his 100th appearance for the club, while this is Max Ehmer's 425th game. Ehmer is just the sixth player in Gills history to reach that mark.
And of course, Sam Gale is making his full debut.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Wimbledon's Josh Kelly and Gillingham's Conor Masterson collide on halfway and both go down.
A brief break in play before the hosts get us going again with a free-kick.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
It's just starting to open up a little as Robbie McKenzie breaks into the box for Gillingham.
His cross from the left is blocked but signs of promise at least.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Gillingham's Bradley Dack just finds a rare bit of space in the pocket in midfield but can't quite guide his pass through.
The Gills are trying to break down the best defence in League Two in Wimbledon, who have conceded 18 goals - one fewer than Walsall, Salford and Crewe (19).
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Gillingham
Sam Parkin
Former Swindon forward, summarising on Sky Sports
They're getting joy down the right hand side, Wimbledon.
Stevens reacts smartly to head the opportunity towards the corner of the net, but I think Morris was comfortable enough diving to his left. It was a very good save.
AFC Wimbledon jumped from eighth to second in League Two with their 1-0 win over Gillingham
AFC Wimbledon moved into League Two's automatic promotion places courtesy of Matty Stevens' controversial winner against Gillingham.
The decisive moment came early in the second half as Stevens appeared to divert James Tilley's corner into the net with his upper right arm for his 12th league goal of the season.
Gillingham felt doubly hard done by, having been denied what looked a clear penalty when Conor Masterson was wrestled over in the box by Dons defender John-Joe O'Toole in a tense first half.
The visitors knocked on the door after Stevens' opener but the equaliser never came and the hosts hung on to leapfrog five other sides into second place in the table.
The Gills, meanwhile, stay 13th – six points off the play-off spots.
Matty Stevens' winner was his 16th goal in all competitions this season
In a game that lacked many clear-cut chances, the big talking points will revolve around two key decisions – and Gillingham will feel aggrieved with both.
O'Toole was involved in off-the-ball shoving matches with a number of the visiting players and the defender should count himself very lucky for avoiding punishment after hauling Masterson to the ground in a headlock inside the box.
Referee Sam Purkiss appeared not to see the incident and the officials' view was also obstructed for the game's only goal.
Tilley's wicked in-swinging corner dropped over the head of Max Ehmer with Stevens running in behind, and the ball appeared to go in off the striker's right arm as he attempted to turn his body to meet it with his chest.
Gillingham were much improved after the goal and pressed high to force Dons defender Ryan Johnson into a couple of mistakes, with goalkeeper Owen Goodman quick out of the area to make a game-saving tackle on clean-through substitute Aaron Rowe.
But Johnnie Jackson's side saw the game out and will begin 2025 in the top two as they look to return to League One after three seasons in the fourth tier.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 41 | 19 | 22 | 49 |
| |
| 2 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 33 | 18 | 15 | 37 |
| |
| 3 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 35 | 24 | 11 | 37 |
| |
| 4 | 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 32 | 27 | 5 | 37 |
| |
| 5 | 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 24 | 3 | 37 |
| |
| 6 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 33 | 34 | -1 | 37 |
| |
| 7 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 36 |
| |
| 8 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 36 |
| |
| 9 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 37 | 27 | 10 | 34 |
| |
| 10 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 24 | 4 | 34 |
| |
| 11 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 34 | 29 | 5 | 31 |
| |
| 12 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 31 | 26 | 5 | 31 |
| |
| 13 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 30 |
| |
| 14 | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 34 | 36 | -2 | 30 |
| |
| 15 | 22 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 27 |
| |
| 16 | 21 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 27 |
| |
| 17 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 22 | -1 | 27 |
| |
| 18 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 29 | 38 | -9 | 26 |
| |
| 19 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 30 | -14 | 22 |
| |
| 20 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 35 | -16 | 22 |
| |
| 21 | 23 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 28 | 37 | -9 | 21 |
| |
| 22 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 27 | 38 | -11 | 19 |
| |
| 23 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 34 | -17 | 18 |
| |
| 24 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 39 | -19 | 17 |
|
Manager: Johnnie Jackson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Mark Bonner
Formation: 3 - 5 - 1 - 1
Manager: Johnnie Jackson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Mark Bonner
Formation: 3 - 5 - 1 - 1
League Two
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AFC Wimbledon are unbeaten in their last five home Football League games against Gillingham (W4 D1), keeping a clean sheet in each of those victories.
Gillingham lost their last Football League game against AFC Wimbledon 2-0 in March last season, and could lose successive such games for the first time since February 2020.
AFC Wimbledon have won their final Football League game of the calendar year in each of the last two years, as many wins as in their first 11 such games (D3 L6).
After beating Sutton 1-0 in 2023, Gillingham are looking to win their final Football League game of the year in successive years since 2005 (run of three).
