Ethan Coleman’s header late in the game took Gillingham to a penalty shootout against League One AFC Wimbledon. However, the visitors progressed to round two in the Carabao Cup, winning the shootout 4-2 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
The visitors took the lead after 33 minutes. Danilo Orsi played Antwoine Hackford through on goal, and he remained composed to curl the ball around the oncoming Jake Turner.
Coleman equalised with six minutes remaining. Sam Gale made a charging run down the right before winning a corner. Max Clark floated the corner towards the six-yard box, and Coleman rose the highest to glance his header into the bottom corner.
The visitors scored all four of their spot kicks, while Jonny Williams and Josh Andrews saw their attempts well saved.
Gareth Ainsworth made six changes to the starting XI that beat Walsall on Saturday. Jake Turner started in goal while Sam Gale replaced Conor Masterson, who missed out due to the calf issue he picked up at the weekend.
Nelson Khumbeni partnered Ethan Coleman in midfield, with Williams providing support for Joe Gbode and Marcus Wyllie in attack.
Wyllie had a great chance to open the scoring after six minutes. Gale’s clearance turned into a perfect ball over the top, putting the forward through on goal. Wyllie could not set himself to get a shot away as he faced pressure from an AFC Wimbledon defender and Joe McDonnell in the visiting goal. He did well to retain possession before taking it wide of McDonnell and getting a shot away. However, the opposing goalkeeper recovered in time to make the save while having three defenders behind him providing cover.
Shad Ogie attempted a speculative effort in the 13th minute. Gale did brilliantly to time his challenge, winning back possession 30 yards from the goal, playing it back to Ogie. The central defender took it forward before shooting, but his attempt was drilled wide.
In the 27th minute, Turner was called into action when Danilo Orsi tried his luck. However, his curling attempt was straight at the Gills goalkeeper, who gathered comfortably.
Hackford gave AFC Wimbledon the lead in the 33rd minute. The Wombles broke forward on the counter with Orsi and Hackford. Orsi slipped the ball in behind for Hackford, who found himself one-on-one with the oncoming Turner. The forward kept his cool, curling it around the Gills goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Orsi nearly made it two shortly after. He did well to hold off the pressure from Andy Smith as the ball bounced towards the penalty area. Turner quickly came off his line to close the forward down, forcing Orsi to try and lob the goalkeeper. Fortunately, that added pressure was enough, as the ball looped just over the crossbar.
Williams shot into the side netting shortly before half-time. Khumbeni played a fantastic cross-field pass, which allowed Williams to chest the ball down as he brought the ball inside. He opted to send a low drive towards the near post, with his attempt nestling into the side netting.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 AFC Wimbledon
Gills made their first change in the 53rd minute as Robbie McKenzie replaced Ogie.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were scrappy, with both sides struggling to cause a threat to the opposing goals. However, a fine turn by Gbode got the home crowd on their feet, as he won a corner before Josh Andrews was introduced with Khumbeni coming off.
Omar Bugiel curled an attempt goalward from 25 yards after receiving the ball in space. However, his attempt was always going wide, leaving Turner untroubled.
Gills made two more changes as they went in search of an equaliser. Stan Sargent and Elliott Nevitt entered the game, replacing Wyllie and Gbode. That also saw a change of formation, with McKenzie moving into the midfield.
In the 84th minute, Coleman equalised for the hosts. Gale went on a run that took the ball towards the visiting penalty area before winning a corner. Max Clark floated the ball into the box, with Coleman rising the highest, and he glanced his header into the bottom corner.
Moments later, Gills nearly turned the tie around. Andrews flicked the ball into the path of McKenzie, who ran onto the ball before heading goalward. His attempt beat McDonnell before striking the underside of the crossbar. Unfortunately, the ball bounced onto the line and back out before AFC Wimbledon cleared their lines.
The game ended all square, meaning the tie would be decided via a penalty shootout.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon scored all four of their penalties, although Alistair Smith had what proved to be the winning spot kick retaken after Turner was adjudged to have come off his line when making the save.
Jonny Williams and Josh Andrews saw their spot kicks well saved by McDonnell in the AFC Wimbledon goal.
AFC Wimbledon win 4-2 on penalties.
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Gale, Smith, Ogie (McKenzie 53’), Clark, Coleman, Khumbeni (Andrews 66’), J. Williams, Wyllie (Nevitt 74’), Gbode (Sargent 74’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Cirino, Little, Dack, Beszant
AFC Wimbledon: McDonnell, Asiimwe, Johnson, Orsi (Stevens 84’) Maycock, Bugiel (Hippolyte 78’), Hackford (Kelly 62’), McCoy-Splatt (Smith 61’), Harbottle, Sasu (Seddon 62’), Ogundere
Unused Substitutes: Bishop, Horan, Sidwell, Nkeng
Referee: Neil Hair
Attendance: 2205 (339 away fans)
