Wycombe 1 Gillingham 0

Top scorer Simeon Jackson missed from the penalty spot as Gillingham were narrowly beaten by Wycombe at Adams Park on Saturday.

Wycombe led at the break thanks to a strike from former Ebbsfleet striker John Akinde but the Gills poured forward in the second half.

Despite a number of chances, including the penalty, the Gills couldn’t find the decisive breakthrough.

Akinde scored what turned out to be the winner on 41 minutes, when he side-footed home Lee Sawyer’s perfectly weighted through-ball, to give the hosts the first half advantage in the League 2 promotion clash.

It was a half devoid of many clear-cut chances but one in which Wycombe enjoyed the majority of the possession.

The home side had much of the early pressure, helped by the absence of Gills defender Simon King for 10 minutes, as he was receiving treatment for a cut to the face.

Wycombe midfielder Chris Zebroski had smashed an effort against the post with three minutes gone during a frantic opening period.

Gillingham failed to trouble home keeper Jamie Young in the opening half with their two best chances falling to top-scorer Simeon Jackson.

His first shot was comfortably dealt with by Young but the second cleared the goal by a distance.

Jackson got a lot closer early in the second half with a snap-shot which Young did well to hold onto.

Gillingham’s chance to go level came from the penalty spot on 54 minutes, after Jackson was fouled by Craig Woodman, but the striker fluffed his lines and put the shot over the bar.

The chance spurred the Gills on and Garry Richards headed just wide moments later.

Gillingham continued to press for the equaliser and put Wycombe on the back foot but the vital goal never came.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson said: “I don’t think we deserved a defeat.

“In the first half they were probably better than us but in the second half we battered them but just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net, but if wasn’t for the want of trying.

“I can’t fault the boys’ effort and I think that was appreciated by the people who travelled with us and we have to take that into the remaining four games.

“If we take that luck which they had with their goal, which we thought was off-side, then we will be okay.”

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Richards, Southall (Lewis 54mins), Miller (Oli 81mins), Weston, Barcham, McCammon, Jackson. Subs not used: Julian, Bentley, Wright.

Wycombe: Young, Hunt, Woodman, McCracken, Doherty (Oliver 90mins), Harrold (Phillips 43mins), Bloomfield, Zebroski, Sinclair, Akinde, Sawyer (Mousinho 83mins). Subs not used: Jones, Beavon.

Attendance: 6,306.