Home   Kent   Sport   Article

Spot-on Jackson seals Gills win

Simeon Jackson is mobbed by team-mates after his injury-time penalty winner. Picture: Matthew Reading
Simeon Jackson is mobbed by team-mates after his injury-time penalty winner. Picture: Matthew Reading

Gillingham 1 Darlington 0

Gillingham beat Darlington on Tuesday night thanks to an injury time penalty from Simeon Jackson.

The striker struck in the third minute minute of injury time after Alan White handled in the area.

The win extended Gillingham�s unbeaten League 2 run to six matches and took Jackson�s season tally to 16.

It was a deserved win for the Gills who dominated the second half and had a number of chances.

Prior to Jackson�s goal it looked as though Gillingham would be settling for a point � and they would be ruing a decision by referee Steve Bratt.

Mark McCammon looked to have given Gillingham the lead midway through the second half but Bratt failed to play advantage after a foul on Curtis Weston in the build-up.

Both sides had their chances in the first half but it was a half that struggled to break into life.

The best of the chances in the opening half fell to Darlington.

Adam Griffin and Jason Kennedy both shot wide, while keeper Simon Royce had to tip Ryan Valentine�s powerful shot over the bar.

Gillingham improved after the break and they dominated the second half.

Referee Bratt denied McCammon's effort on 54 minutes when he pulled play back for a foul on Curtis Weston, just as the big striker struck past keeper Andy Oakes.

Andy Barcham was brought on to shake things up for the last half hour and his through ball to Nicky Southall almost produced a goal but the Gills midfielder shot straight at the keeper.

Fellow midfielder Adam Miller made the goalkeeper work even harder in the latter stages with a powerful free-kick that Oakes did well to palm over.

Jackson should have delivered the points with a minute to go, when Barcham did well to find space in the box and pass for the striker but he fluffed the chance from six yards out.

The Gills striker was to end the night the hero, though, as he beat Oakes from the spot, after White handled Weston�s knock down from John Nutter�s free-kick.


Manager Mark Stimson said: �Darlington were bang on it and they came with a big back four and we knew it was going to be a test.

�We asked the players to treat the first 20 minutes, half hour of the game as though we were losing 1-0 in a cup final and go for it. They did that and we just didn�t get that lucky break in front of goal.

�We introduced Barcham for the last half hour and we upped it again and he showed some great qualities.

�Right at the death it was a blatant penalty and Jacko showed all the composure he�s got. It was a fantastic penalty and a nice three points.�

Goalscorer Simeon Jackson said: �I was just glad I had an opportunity to fix it right for the one I missed previously. It was a great win and keeps us in the right position.�


Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Bentley (Richards 33mins), Southall (Mulligan 89mins), Miller, Oli (Barcham 63mins), Weston, McCammon, Jackson. Subs not used: Lewis, Julian.

Darlington: Oakes, Fortune (Main 86mins), White, Foster, Miller, Kennedy, Carlton, Purdie, Valentine, Poole, Griffin. Subs not used: Kazimierczak, Barnes, Groves, Gray.

Attendance: 4,730.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More