Last-Gasp Midson Earns Dons Comeback Win

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Gillingham 3 v Wimbledon 4

Jack Midson's 89th-minute winner earned Wimbledon a remarkable win on Saturday (21 January) as they twice came from two goals behind to beat Gillingham 4-3.

The Dons were 3-1 down with just quarter of an hour remaining when they started their remarkable comeback that culminated with Midson's sidefooted winner from a Gareth Gwillim cross.

The game got off to the worst possible start for the Dons as they found themselves a goal behind after just four minutes. Gavin Tomlin, Gillingham's debutant striker, was played in through a massive hole in the Wimbledon defence and jinked past Callum McNaughton before firing home to make it 1-0.

The Dons responded by having the better of the possession throughout the remainder of the game, with loanees Billy Knott and George Moncur again impressing in midfield.

Byron Harrison spurned two half chances for the Dons, first seeing one poked effort gathered by Ross Flitney and then having his header cleared from under the bar by Garry Richards.

Nine minutes into the second half, Wimbledon found themselves 2-0 down when Tomlin's excellent through ball bisected McNaughton and Mat Mitchel-King, allowing Jo Kuffour to run on and blast home past the onrushing Seb Brown.

The Dons almost immediately pulled it back to 2-1, Luke Moore evading the offside trap from Moncur's through ball and running on before slotting home past Flitney.

Midson could have drawn the Dons level as they continued to press, but just after the hour mark Gillingham restored their two goal cushion when an unmarked Tomlin headed home Kuffour's cross.

The Dons' fightback started with just quarter of an hour left when, following a quickly taken Rashid Yussuff corner, Gills defender Garry Richards turned the ball into his own net from Sam Hatton's cross.

And remarkably the Dons were level with 10 minutes remaining. Midson and Matt Lawrence got their arms entangled while jostling for Sammy Moore's pass but the officials penalised the veteran defender for tugging, with Midson stepping up to blast home the resultant penalty.

But the Dons weren't finished there. With time running out, substitute Brendan Kiernan cleverly released Gwillim down the inside-left channel and his low cross was converted by Midson for his 13th goal of the season.

The Dons held on for the five minutes of added-on time to chalk up their second away win in as many games.

Afterwards, boss Terry Brown told BBC London 94.9: "It was an incredible result. I'm not sure we could have bounced back a few weeks ago but we were able to do that today.

"Credit to all the boys, not just the new boys: they have stepped up to the plate today."

The Dons get a chance to try and improve their miserable home record as they entertain Macclesfield on Tuesday (24 January) and Dean Holdsworth's struggling Aldershot side on Saturday 28 January.

Attendance: 6,236

Gillingham: Flitney, Lee, Richards, Payne, Kedwell, Martin, Lawrence, Jackman (Whelpdale 81), Montrose, Kuffour (Weston 70), Tomlin (Oli 84). Subs not used: King, Gazzaniga.

Goalscorers: Tomlin 4, 62, Kuffour 54.

Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Gwillim, S. Moore, Mitchel-King, McNaughton, Knott (Kiernan 85), Moncur, Midson, Harrison (Stuart 90), L. Moore (Yussuff 71). Subs not used: Bush, Turner.

Goalscorers: L. Moore 60, Richards (o.g.) 72, Midson 80 (pen), 89.

Booked: Midson 57, Moncur 90.

By Rob Crane

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January 22, 2012