Matty Stevens lifts AFC Wimbledon up to second – as Gillingham boss fumes over goal and ‘assault in the box’

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AFC Wimbledon are up to second in League Two after their 1-0 win over Gillingham at Plough Lane on Monday night. 

James Tilley set up Matty Stevens for his twelfth league goal of the season 50 minutes in. It was a controversial moment as the visitors claimed the ball came off the striker’s arm. 

Johnnie Jackson’s Dons are one of five teams on 37 points, twelve points off Walsall. 

“I’m buzzing,” Tilley said. “We knew going into the game how they play. We managed to out-battle them and take those three points.

“Sometimes you’re not at your best and you nave be able to scrap out games and we’ve done that.

“We work on our corners most days, finding that front post, and it’s come off. Matty Stevens is on fire. Since he’s come in he’s quality.

“Before every season the aim is to get promoted, we’re right in the mix, it’s about trying to stay in and around it now and stay in that top three.”

Meanwhile, Gills boss Mark Bonner felt the goal should have been disallowed and that his side were denied a penalty. 

“We made an error for the corner but it’s handball. In the speed of everything it’s a difficult decision to make, but it’s a tough one for us when we were well in the game,” Bonner said. 

“The goal shouldn’t stand and maybe it would have been different if it hadn’t.”

He added: “I have mixed emotions. To lose the game is harsh on us, we were deserving of something.

“We were night and day in our intensity from Boxing Day so I am proud of that. We had a good chance when if Eliott Nevitt makes the extra pass we probably score.

“A couple of key moments have gone against us.

“The goal was disappointing but our response to it was very good. There was lots in the performance I’ll protect the players for.

“We were much better in the second half. We had good control and good endeavour.

“We felt the contact on our players in their box was overly aggressive. If we have VAR, we have a penalty after five minutes and their goal doesn’t count.”

Bonner felt Conor Masterson was fouled in the box by Dons defender John-Joe O’Toole in the first half. 

Bonner said: “[It] was absolute assault in the box. I don’t know what is a penalty if that isn’t.”

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