Simeon Jackson is congratulated on scoring from the penalty spot

Simeon Jackson hit the winner from the penalty spot in a 1-0 victory against Yeovil on Tuesday night to end a miserable run of form from 12 yards.

Gillingham’s top scorer had seen his last two penalties saved, in games for Gillingham and Canada, but he showed his nerve on Tuesday to score the decisive ninth minute spot-kick.

It was his fifth converted penalty of the season for the Gills striker and took his goal tally to 12.

Jackson said: “There were no doubts from me and to be honest I thought Curtis was going to kick up a stink because he scored the last one.

“I said I was going to take it and he said ‘go on’. It was good to go in one to the good, it should have been three or four and it’s just good to get the three points because we needed it.”

Jackson changed his usual penalty style and dinked the shot over keeper Alex McCarthy into the net.

He said: “I did it in the Johnstone’s Paint game but it’s the first time I’ve done it in the league.

“When I missed the one with Canada, I went the same way (as previously) and they were good saves. At the end of the day but you have to stick at it. There was no way I was bottling it and not taking it.”

Last week Jackson was involved with Canada and he took his caps tally to eight. He’s hoping to have done enough to earn a regular slot on the international scene.

He said: “We played two good teams but we were disappointing in the first game (against Macedonia).

“In the second against Poland we played a lot better but we still didn’t get the result. It was still good for me going and getting the experience and getting the caps.

“The manager is a caretaker at the moment but he’s been brilliant for me. He’s brought me in and has given me my debut. If he does get the job I will have a lot more to look forward to, its just up in the air as to who the manager is going to be. I’ll just have to keep my head down at club level and keep going.”