Gillingham defeat Rochdale to reach League 2 play-off final at Wembley
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Simeon Jackson celebrates scoring
from the penalty spot against
Rochdale
Picture: Barry Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham 2 Rochdale
1
Gillingham booked their place at Wembley after
Simeon Jackson struck twice to help beat Rochdale at
Priestfield.
Jackson scored a goal in each half to end a thrilling League 2
play-off semi-final in Gillingham’s favour.
It will be the first time the Gills have been
to the new Wembley Stadium and they will now meet Shrewsbury for a
place in League 1 on May 23.
The first-half ended even after Rochdale
cancelled out Simeon Jackson’s early strike, but the Gills striker
put his side back ahead just before the hour.
The visitors saw plenty of the ball in the
early stages and they had the first chance when Lee Thorpe headed
over Tom Kennedy’s cross.
It was the Gills who drew first blood, though,
when Andy Barcham’s low cross was steered past keeper Frank
Fielding by Jackson on 13 minutes – his first goal from open play
since mid-March.
The goal livened the Gills up and Rochdale had
to soak up plenty of attacking pressure from the hosts, who were
backed by a noisy home support.
Rochdale got back on level terms though when
Gillingham failed to clear their lines and Chris Dagnall made space
in the box and smashed a shot past keeper Simon Royce.
Gillingham were facing their favoured Rainham
End in the second half and they didn’t have long to wait for
another goal.
With 58 minutes gone Jackson slotted home his 20th
goal of the season from the penalty spot after Rory McArdle had
fouled John Nutter.
The Gills came close to extending that lead
moments later but Garry Richards’ header bounced off the top of the
bar from Nutter’s cross.
There were some nervy moments for Gillingham
late on as Rochdale applied the pressure and Royce needed two
attempts to catch Ciaran Toner’s corner-kick with 10 minutes
left.
McArdle narrowly headed over late on for
Rochdale and Dagnall had shouts for a penalty after falling inside
the box.
Four nervy minutes of injury time followed and
Will Buckley put an effort wide for the visitors.
The Gills hung on and thousands of fans
flooded the pitch to celebrate a historic night at Priestfield.
Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter,
Lewis, King, Richards, Jackson (McCammon 90mins), Wright (Bentley
72mins), Oli (Southall 85mins), Weston, Barcham. Subs not used:
Julian, Jarrett.
Rochdale: Fielding, Ramsden,
Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Rundle (Shaw 69mins), Thompson (Buckley
61mins), G Jones, Toner, Dagnall, Thorpe (Le Fondre 69mins). Subs
not used: M Jones, Holness.
Attendance: 9,585
Sunday, May 10 2009
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