Cheye Alexander volleyed home against his former team as Gillingham completed a comeback to beat Wimbledon.

Alex MacDonald struck the crossbar during a scrappy opening half at Priestfield but Wimbledon went infront early in the second half through Ali Al-Hamadi. Gills fought back as Max Ehmer levelled and Alexander won it.

• Reaction: "It's a great place to be!"

It’s now six wins from their last eight games for the Gills as they continue to put relegation fears behind them.

Striker Tom Nichols was back in the starting eleven for the Gills, replacing Aiden O’Brien, while Alex MacDonald and David Tutonda were also recalled as Robbie McKenzie wasn’t involved and Shaun Williams dropped to the bench.

The Gills - watched by another sizeable crowd at Priestfield - picked up a couple of injuries during a stop-start opening half, littered with fouls, mostly being dished out by the visitors.

Gillingham physio Gary Hemens was kept busy throughout the opening 45 minutes as Tim Dieng went off with a head injury following a collision with Alex Woodyard and Nichols unable to run off a knock to his ankle.

David Tutonda managed to carry on after a clash of heads with Harry Pell while a challenge that left Alex MacDonald clutching his face went unpunished.

There was just two notable moments of action during the half as Glenn Morris tipped an effort from Pell over the bar and at the other end MacDonald smashed a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Visiting captain Woodyard was lucky to be on for the second half after a handball late on in the half. He was already on a booking but the referee chose not to punish him with another caution.

Seven minutes into the second half and it was Wimbledon who broke the deadlock, countering on the Gills after David Tutonda had been tackled.

Al-Hamadi ran onto a ball over the top, timing it well to stay onside, which put him in the clear. The linesman’s flag stayed down and he cut the ball back before smashing a shot in beyond goalkeeper Morris.

It wasn’t long before the Gills levelled, however. MacDonald’s 52nd minute free-kick was met by Shaun Williams, his header was turned onto the post by a fine save from Nik Tzanev but the loose ball fell kindly, enabling centre-back Ehmer to score from a yard out.

Alexander put the Gills infront in the 66th minute, his first goal in over three years. A cross from Williams was cleared into the path of the former Dons defender on the edge of the box and he volleyed into the bottom corner, a defection taking it past keeper Tzanev.

Harry Pell had appeals for a penalty turned down after slight contact from Dom Jefferies and got little sympathy from the Gills fans as he hobbled off injured with 10 minutes left - having dished out plenty in the match.

Morris had to get down well at his near post to deny Jack Currie as the Dons - in need of points to keep alive their play-off hopes - pushed for a way back into the game.

Gills went with five at the back for the final few minutes as they protected the slender lead and make it four straight wins at Priestfield.

Gillingham: Morris, Alexander, Tutonda, Masterson, Ehmer, MacDonald (Wright 88mins), Dieng (Williams 33mins), Jefferies, Lapslie, Nichols (O’Brien 42mins), Hawkins. Subs not used: Turner, Adelakun, Abrahams, Gbode.

Wimbledon: Tzanev, Gunter, Brown, Woodyard (Chislett 72mins), Nightingale, Pell (Marsh 81mins), Davison (Pearson 77mins), Al-Hamdi, Little, McAteer (Janneh 77mins), Currie. Subs not used: Broome, Pierre.

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: 7,453 (913 away)