Gareth Ainsworth got his first win as Gillingham manager thanks to a stoppage-time winner by Bradley Dack on Saturday.

A game between two teams lacking wins in recent months looked to be heading for a stalemate until Dack’s late intervention.

The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until Gills conjured up a moment of magic in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Max Clark’s deep free-kick was headed back across goal by Conor Masterson and Dack was able to convert from close range to send Priestfield into raptures.

With first-choice Glenn Morris ruled out through injury, there was a Football League debut for 20-year-old Taite Holtam for Gillingham.

Boss Gareth Ainsworth made two other changes to his starting line-up from the side that drew at Chesterfield in midweek with Euan Williams and Robbie McKenzie replacing Jonny Williams and Joe Gbode.

It was a stop-start affair although Holtam’s first serious intervention was a positive one as he raced out to clear after seven minutes with Scott Hogan looking to break clear on goal.

It took until midway through the first half for Gillingham to call visiting keeper Craig MacGillivray into action. McKenize’s header lacked power even though it was technically on target but then defender Sam Gale’s 20-yard drive had to be beaten away as it was destined for the bottom corner.

It needed two tackles in quick succession by MK Dons’ Laurence Maguire to deny Euan Williams and Aaron Rowe a path to goal.

MK Dons had the ball in the net with their first meaningful attack but the offside flag was already up by the time Hogan converted skipper Alex Gilbey’s through ball.

Hutton, playing an advanced role down the right, looked Gills’ best outlet and he nearly found the breakthrough after 38 minutes, forcing MacGillivray to save with his legs at the near post.

MK Dons failed to call Holtam into action, Joe Tomlinson’s shot was blocked by Gale before it got that far and then Gilbey shot over.

The six minutes of additional time in the first half underlined the fact the game had little flow although the Gills did lose Euan Williams to injury before the break with Gbode coming off the bench.

Up front, Elliott Nevitt was a willing runner but he was often isolated against at least two defenders.

Gillingham were, as is their like, kicking towards The Rainham End in the second half and the home fans certainly made plenty of noise to try and get their side going.

However, it was MK Dons who went close twice in a minute. Shad Ogie was caught napping by Callum Hendry but his cross was cleared by Masterson, and then Tommi O’Reilly shot wide from the edge of the area.

MK Dons wasted a good chance to test Holtam with 23 minutes left when substitute Joe White hit the defensive wall with a 20-yard free-kick.

Gillingham hit the woodwork on 78 minutes when Bradley Dack’s header from a Clark free-kick hit the top of the crossbar but he wasn’t to be denied in stoppage time.

Gillingham: Holtam, Gale, Masterson, Ogie, Clark, Hutton (Clarke 83mins), Clark, E Williams (Gbode 45+2mins, Hawkins 83mins), Little, McKenzie, Rowe (Dack 62mins), Nevitt. Subs not used: Nolan, Morgan, Agbinone.

MK Dons: MacGillivray, Gilbey (Orsi 85mins), Tomlinson, Offord, O'Reilly, Thompson-Sommers, Hendry (White 67mins), Maguire, Lemonheigh-Evans (Kelly 85mins), Hogan, Sanders. Subs not used: Trueman, Leko,, Nemane, Waller.

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis.

Attendance: 6,080 (208 away).