MK Dons’ winning run in League Two was ended by a 1-0 home loss to Gillingham.

The Dons had won each of their previous six League Two outings, but a second half goal by Robbie McKenzie won the day for the visitors, who move to a point behind MK Dons thanks to their victory at Stadium MK.

Defeat was the Dons’ first loss in seven league games, and saw them drop out of the play-off spots, although they are just a place and a point outside the top seven and four behind the automatic promotion places ahead of the busy Christmas period.

Having seen a storm blow away their planned game against Barrow last weekend, MK Dons’ first match in a week and a half saw them return to Stadium MK looking to make it seven wins in a row in League Two.

Standing in their way were Gillingham, who were arriving in midtable after an up and down patch but started just four points behind Scott Lindsey’s side at kick-off.

An early chance fell the Dons’ way when an Aaron Nemane cross picked out Scott Hogan, whose mishit shot was gathered by Glenn Morris in the Gillingham goal.

The Dons had most of the possession in the early stages of the contest, but Gillingham’s low block was proving a barrier for the home side to try to break through.

Jack Nolan swung a shot off target with an opportunity that fell the away side’s way, before the Dons came closer as Morris denied a header by Alex Gilbey from Liam Kelly’s cross.

Two chances fell the home side’s way in quick succession, as Joe White saw a free-kick just clear the bar before Joe Pritchard nearly opened the scoring single-handedly. The Dons’ wing-back prized the ball off Harry Webster and charged into the box, only for his low shot to be kept out by Morris.

Pritchard would poke a shot wide with the final touch of the first half, while as the second began, the Dons had a few opportunities, as Hogan hit the side-netting with an effort before White saw a firm strike narrowly clear the top of the bar.

Having largely been second best, Gillingham then began to show more forward momentum as the game approached the hour, and an attack nearly paid off when Aaron Rowe had a shot blocked before Nolan’s effort had to be tipped wide by McGill.

MK Dons initially cleared the corner from that shot, but weren’t able to fully get rid of the ball and when Rowe fed McKenzie, the latter’s shot found the back of the net. It was a bad moment for McGill, however, given the shot had been straight at the Brighton loanee only to creep under the Canadian and end up in the back of the net.

Hogan headed wide moments after in a search for a quick equaliser, while Elliott Nevitt also missed the target with a shot for the visitors.

The home side threw on attackers in their search for an equaliser, but a low Gillingham block with a lead to defend proved to be a very challenging obstacle for MK Dons to try to break through.

This proved to be a pattern of the game between the Gillingham goal and the final stages, with the home side repeatedly running into cul-de-sacs and unable to make big chances for an equaliser.

One finally seemed to come their way in stoppage time, as Kelly’s ball into the box wasn’t fully intercepted by Morris, triggering a scramble with players of both sides lurking. But the ball was bundled out for a Gillingham goal-kick, and despite eight minutes of injury time, the Dons ran out of time and slipped to defeat – their first League Two defeat at Stadium MK since the opening day of the season.

MK Dons: McGill – Offord, Lawrence, Maguire (Carroll 81) – Nemane, Kelly, White, Pritchard (Hendry 65) – Wearne (Harrison 65), Hogan, Gilbey

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Lewington, Sherring, Thompson-Sommers

Gillingham: Morris – Webster (Hutton 59), Masterson, Ehmer, Clark – McKenzie, Coleman – Nolan (E. Williams 70), Rowe (Ogie 70), Clarke (Dack 81) – Nevitt (Andrews 81)

Subs not used: Turner, Andrews, J. Williams, Dack

Goal: McKenzie (59)

Booked: Rowe, Ehmer, McKenzie