Match Reports
Jackson late show proves a thriller for the Gills
Published by Simon Head on February 20, 2010
Gillingham’s top scorer Simeon Jackson came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner and secure the club’s first victory of 2010 in a thrilling finale at Priestfield this afternoon.
Jackson had been rested by manager Mark Stimson, who opted to pair new loan signing Chris Dickson with Rene Howe, back in the side following a spell out injured.
But after Gillingham saw a host of chances go to waste, Stimson threw on Jackson, Dennis Oli and Andy Barcham in an attempt to secure the three points and his positive approach paid off with Jackson’s late, late winner.
In truth, Gillingham should have been out of sight by stoppage time. Rene Howe wasted the best chance of the game in the first half, shanking over the bar from six yards after excellent work out wide by Dickson has presented a golden chance for the big striker.
Dickson went close with a couple of chances, the best of which saw his flicked header from a Danny Jackman free kick fall just wide of the post – while Jackson, introduced mid-way through the second period, saw a shot cannon back off the upright as the Gills cranked up the pressure on the visitors.
Then, in stoppage time and with the fans wondering if it wasn’t going to be their day, Dickson picked out Jackson on the edge of the box with an incisive pass. The Canadian striker shimmied, cut inside the defender and fired a low shot past Rhys Evans in the Bristol Rovers goal and sent the Priestfield crowd into delirium.
The Gills had plugged away throughout the game and never stopped trying to create. Misplaced passes and near misses were a feature of the game, but Gillingham also tried to keep the ball down and pass it. They played some good football at times, moving the ball about the park well, but just lacked that one piece of quality where it mattered – until Jackson conjured his party-piece in the last minute of stoppage time.
FULL-TIME REPORT
Simon Head
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