Nottingham Forest 2 Gillingham 2

SUBSTITUTE Eugen Bopp’s goal six minutes from time broke Gillingham hearts and condemned Stan Ternent’s team to League One football next season.

Bopp had been on the field for less than a minute when he smashed a superb volley high into Jason Brown’s goal from 25 yards.

Gillingham’s relegation was confirmed when news filtered through that Crewe, their main last day rivals for the drop, had beaten Coventry 2-1 at Gresty Road. The other team that could have gone down, Brighton, drew 1-1 with Ipswich.

Gills thought they had saved themselves when Mamady Sidibe put them in front 13 minutes from time with a fine volley that gave Colin Doyle in the Forest goal no chance.

And in a frantic last five minutes, Darius Henderson had two great chances and Matt Jarvis failed to connect properly with a left-foot volley.

The home side had taken the lead after 28 minutes when poor marking left Wes Morgan unchallenged to volley home after Brown had saved his initial header.

But Gillingham equalised when Andy Melville could only steer Nicky Southall’s cross into his own net on the hour.

Andrew Crofts was brought into the starting line-up in place of Henderson and he came close to putting the visitors in front with a 16th minute headed that went wide.

Mike Flynn forced a good save from Forest keeper Colin Doyle on 25 minutes and seconds later Sidibe headed straight at Doyle when he could have done better.

Sidibe came even closer five minutes after Forest took the lead, but his shot was blocked after he had gone round the keeper.

Doyle made a fine double save, first from Paul Smith and then from Andrew Crofts to deny the Gills just before the break.

In the second half, Jonathan Douglas almost brought Gillingham level with a fine left-foot volley from 20 yards but it just cleared the bar.

Subsitute Henderson had a glorious opportunity to put Gillingham ahead but he blasted over when it looked easier to score.

Gills: Brown, Nosworthy, Ashby (Byfield 85), Cox, McEveley, Southall, Smith, Flynn (Henderson 55), Crofts (Jarvis h-t), Douglas, Crofts, Sidibe. Subs Not Used: Banks, Hessenthaler.

Attendance: 24,800.

Related articles:

Counting the cost of relegation
How the season unfolded
Ternent: my lowest day
Forest v Gills: how the players rated