Dons beat Gillingham for first win of the season

MK Dons lifted themselves off the bottom of the League One table with a confident 2-0 victory over Gillingham on Saturday.

Kicking off two hours earlier than the rest of the division, Dons climbed as high as 17th thanks to goals from Cameron Jerome and Carlton Morris, but it should have been a more comfortable margin of victory for Russell Martin's side with the chances they created.

Following last weeks defeat to Portsmouth, Dons made three changes to the starting line-up. Sam Nombe's move to Luton handed Cameron Jerome his first start for the club, while Daniel Harvie and Regan Poole returning from international duty saw them straight back into the team in place of Baily Cargill and Matthew Sorinola. Deadline day signings Ste Walker and Andrew Fisher were registered too late to play.

Having conceded first in all but one of their opening fixtures this season, Dons looked eager to capitalise on a Gillingham side set up to hit them on the counter attack. Once again controlling possession, Jerome was looking lively in his first start for the club and after an early sighter easily dealt with by Jack Bonham, he opened his scoring account for Dons on 19 minutes, sweeping home Poole's cross.

But rather than keeping control of the game, Dons looked nervous with the lead in their pocket and wee let off the hook on several occasions as Gillingham sought an equaliser. Dominic Samuel was denied what looked like a stonewall penalty, while Lee Nicholls' distribution left a lot to be desired as he played both David Kasumu and Richard Keogh into trouble which the visitors were not able to capitalise on.

Despite their nerves going in at the break, Dons needed just two minutes in the second half as Morris finished a great team move to give them a two goal advantage.

As Gillingham introduced the powerful Akinde to try and go more direct in the second period, it was Dons who should have put the game to bed on the hour mark when Harvie got on the end of a terrific ball from the industrious Thompson but screwed it just wide.

Jerome's home debut could well have ended with two goals when he was unleashed on goal by the excellent Fraser, but his shot was well blocked by Zech Medley. He was replaced by Joe Mason who immediately should have wrapped the game up with a one-on-one but was denied by Bonham.

The Gillingham keeper did well again to deny Dons a third with 12 minutes to go as Morris looked set to fire in his second of the afternoon, but they were able to coast to the full-time whistle and their first win of the season.

Referee: Neil Hair

MK Dons: Nicholls, Williams, Lewington, Keogh, Poole, Harvie, Kasumu, Thompson (Gladwin 83), Fraser (Houghton 78), Morris, Jerome (Mason 69)

Subs not used: Walker, Cargill, O'Hora, Sorensen

Gillingham: Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Medley, Ogilvie, Drysdale (Akinde 49), Robertson (Eccles 67), Dempsey, Oliver, Graham, Samuel (Coyle 67)

Subs not used: Walsh, McKenzie, MacDonald, Mahghoma

Booked: Thompson, Robertson, Williams, Kasumu