Goal scorer Simeon Jackson celebrates with the Gillingham bench after his injury time winner at the Priestfield. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Simeon Jackson broke the Gillingham goal-drought with an injury time winner at Priestfield on Saturday.

The Gills claimed a deserved three points against Bristol Rovers as Jackson netted in the second minute of time added on – his 15th of the season.

Jackson’s goal handed the Gills their first win in 11 and kept them clear of the League 1 relegation places. It was a deserved win for the Gills, who had seen a series of chances go begging. Luck didn’t seem to be on their side as with just two minutes to go Jackson was denied by the post.

"It was a good performance," said delighted manager Mark Stimson. "I made a couple of changes from last week and we deserved the three points as we created a few chances.

"It was pleasing as we had waited too long to get this win. We’ve been thinking about it and talking about it but it’s nice to get it out of the way and we look forward to Tuesday now against Leyton Orient.

"It will be nice to come in on Monday morning after keeping a clean sheet and winning."

Jackson came off the bench to score the winning goal which ended a run of four straight matches without a goal for the Gills.

Stimson said: "You can see he's a natural striker because he picked the ball up and turned and there was only one thing on his mind, he wanted to hit the target. To see him scoring a goal in the Rainham End was a nice sight to see."

Gillingham were the brighter of the two teams going forward from the off and Rene Howe should have opened the scoring two minutes before the break, but he skied the cut-back from Chris Dickson over the bar.

Loan signing Dickson was doing his best to get Gillingham going in attack but he couldn’t find the target either. He lashed an effort wide moments before Howe’s chance went begging.

A good end to the half for the Gills also saw defender Darren Dennehy head just wide from Kevin Maher’s corner.

The visitors showed even less spark and their closest chance came midway through the half when left-back Byron Anthony shot wide.

Early chances in the second half fell to Howe and Adam Miller but neither player was able to find the target,

With an hour gone Gills manager Mark Stimson made changes with Dennis Oli and Simeon Jackson both coming on. The Gills played the final half hour with a three-man attack.

Danny Jackman smashed a free-kick just wide for the Gills with 25 minutes left and moments later another set-piece from the midfielder was glanced just the wrong side of the post by Dickson.

Jackson did have the ball in the back of the net but the referee ruled it out for offside.

The Gills dominated the latter stages but still the vital goal wouldn’t arrive. Jackson again came close with five minutes remaining but couldn’t keep his shot down.

In the dying minutes Jackson picked up the ball and drove at goal but ‘keeper Rhys Evans got enough on the shot to send it crashing into the base of the post.

With 92 minutes gone Dickson flicked on a ball into Jackson’s path and he did the rest, with a powerful shot into the bottom corner to hand Gillingham a much-needed boost.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Richards, Dennehy, Maher (Jackson 57mins), Jackman, Weston (Barcham 84mins), Miller, Howe (Oli 57mins), Dickson. Subs not used: Royce, Palmer, Gowling, Walker.

Rovers: Evans, Elliott, Campbell, Williams (Richard 73mins), Hughes, Anthony, Blizzard, Reece (Swallow 73 mins), Lescott, Jones, Heffernan. Subs not used: Andersen, Regan, Wright, Clough, Tyrrel.

Attendance: 5,302.