Gills goalscorer Simeon Jackson is brought down by replacement Norwich keeper Declan Rudd

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham were denied victory at Priestfield following Darel Russell’s stoppage time goal for Norwich in League 1 on Saturday.

The Gills were heading for maximum points, following Simeon Jackson’s first half penalty, but 10-man Norwich hit them in the fourth minute of stoppage time with an equaliser.

Jackson’s ninth goal of the season looked to have handed the Gills the points but he will be ruing the numerous chances he had in the second half to seal the win for the hosts.

Visiting keeper Fraser Forster saw red following his 35 minute trip on Curtis Weston and from the resulting spot-kick Jackson converted.

The opening half had plenty of spice with Gills skipper Barry Fuller seeing yellow after shoving Norwich dangerman Wes Hoolahan.

The Norwich midfielder was the chief architect for the visitors and they had plenty of chances in the opening stages, with Korey Smith, Luke Daley and himself smashing chances wide.

It was Jackson’s deft flick that finally opened up a Norwich defence who had proved tough to break down early on. Weston ran onto the ball and with just the keeper to beat he went down following a challenge from Forster and referee Paul Taylor pointed to the spot.

Jackson slammed the penalty past replacement keeper Declan Rudd to give his side the advantage at the break. He had a chance to make it 2-0 moments before the whistle but dragged a good chance wide, while Norwich centre-half Michael Spillane sent a header narrowly over the bar in stoppage time.

The Gills made a great start to the second half, boosted by the man advantage. Josh Gowling had a header blocked on the line and Dennis Oli sent one just wide of the post.

Chris Palmer also saw a stinging shot beaten away by Rudd and the stand-in keeper did well again midway through the half to save at Jackson’s feet.

Gillingham’s leading scorer Jackson was finding plenty of opportunities and twice in a minute he struck efforts narrowly wide. When the Gills did find their range they found Rudd in fine form. He made a great save to deny Weston with 10 minutes left.

Five minutes of injury time were played and with four of those gone Russell leapt to head home after Grant Holt's cross came back off Royce’s bar.

Gills boss Mark Stimson was left to ponder on what might have been after seeing Norwich nick a late point.

He said: "For the first 20 minutes we couldn’t get near a good Norwich side. They set up with a system that really got the ball moving around and made it difficult.

"After that we got to grips with it and after taking the lead with another Simeon Jackson penalty we went in at half-time and I was trying to tell the players ‘don’t think about 10 men, you’ve got to go out there and work even harder. We will get opportunities if we keep switching the play and passing the ball.’

"We needed one more to finish the game off but unfortunately we didn’t do that. We had good opportunities and they fell to a prolific striker (Jackson) but in front of goal he didn’t have the best of times.

"He kept getting in there and that’s what he had to do. Right at the end when you think time’s up, the ball looks like it is going out of play and it hits the bar. Full credit to the Norwich players they’ve gone in there and got an equaliser."

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Palmer, Bentley, Gowling, Maher (Payne 66mins), Jackman, Oli, Barcham (Nutter 66mins), Weston, Jackson (Miller 80mins). Subs not used: Erskine, Wynter, Julian, Rooney.

Norwich: Forster, Ostemobor (Hughes 40mins), Askou, Drury, Spillane, Lappin, Russell, Smith (McDonald 68mins), Hoolahan, Daley (Rudd 35mins), Holt. Subs not used: Cureton, Martin, Adeyemi, McVeigh.

Attendance: 7,550