Debut man Romain Vincelot hit a first half winner for Gillingham in their game at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Gills manager Martin Allen made six changes to his starting eleven, including a first appearancd for new loan signing Vincelot, who had arrived from Brighton the day before.

His goal after 23 minutes separated the sides and the win took the Gills five points clear of second placed side Port Vale in League 2.

The Gills were able to keep a clean sheet at the back as AFC Wimbledon put the pressure on in the second half. But the hosts were restricted to chances from distance.

Danny Kedwell was back in the side, to face his former club. His goals helped AFC Wimbledon win promotion to the Football League. Missing for Allen was Joe Martin – out with a broken hand – and striker Deon Burton, with a knee injury.

Myles Weston – another player who returned to the team – had Gills’ first real chance of the half, drawing a good save from home keeper Seb Brown after 12 minutes.

Eleven minutes later and the Gills had the lead. A throw in from Chris Whelpdale fell to newcomer Vincelot and he smashed the ball low, beyond Brown.

The hosts responded to the goal by threatening at the other end for the first time but it wasn’t until first half injury time when keeper Stuart Nelson was forced to make a save, as he held onto Stacy Long’s curling effort from the edge of the box.

Gillingham’s closest chance for a second came from Fish, who ran half the distance of the pitch, before seeing his shot beaten away by Brown.

The hosts were struggling to find a way in behind the Gills and George Francomb tried his luck from distance on 55 minutes, but Nelson saw it coming and palmed it away for a corner.

A free-kick soon after saw former Gills midfielder Rashid Yussuff find the target but not a way past Nelson. The hosts continued to try their luck from the edge of the box and Francomb hit a shot from distance again, this time though it sailed wide.

A rare chance for the Gills midway through the half saw Whelpdale smash an effort over the bar.

A 20-yard effort from Yussuff was deflected out and from the resulting corner there was a scare, with Flanagan hacking the ball clear. Byron Harrison shot wide as the Wombles continued to have the majority of the second half chances.

Kedwell, with few chances at goal, headed a throw from substitute Charlie Lee into the goalkeeper’s hands with just over 10 minutes left.

Another long shot, this time from Steven Gregory also went wide for the home side.

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Frampton, Flanagan, Barrett, Montrose, Whelpdale, Strevens, Vincelot, Kedwell, Weston (Lee 76mins). Subs not used: Davies, Forecast, Jackman, Dack, Payne, Findley.

AFC Wimbledon: Brown, Francomb, Osano, Hayes-Brown (Jolley 86mins), Yussuff, Mambo, Antwi, Long (Moore 66mins), Gregory, Harrison, Midson. Subs not used: Fenlon, Jaimez-Ruiz, Harris, Cummings, Merrifield.

Attendance: 4,546