Simeon Jackson scores a last minute winner in the play-off final at Wembley
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Simeon Jackson celebrates scoring the winner
at Wembley for Gillingham
Picture: Matthew Walker
by Luke
Cawdell
Gillingham 1 Shrewsbury 0
Simeon Jackson’s last-minute goal sent
Gillingham back into League 1 on Saturday.
The Gills striker rose highest to head home
Josh Wright’s corner in the play-off final at Wembley.
Gillingham had dominated the first half but
were put under pressure in the second as Shrewsbury hit back.
The Gills had the only shots on target in the
first 45 minutes and only two great saves from Shrewsbury keeper
Luke Daniels denied them the lead.
Gillingham settled into the match quicker and
they had the first effort on target, when John Nutter connected on
to Wright’s corner, but keeper Daniels did well to block the
powerful shot and turn it over the bar.
Prior to that the Shrews twice came close to
putting the ball into their own net. Graham Coughlan put Nutter’s
corner narrowly wide and Darren Moss chested Barry Fuller’s just
wide of the opposite post.
Early chances had been scarce as both sides
took time to familiarise themselves with the surroundings in the
Wembley stadium.
As half-time approached, Jackson struck well
wide and Daniels was there to thwart the Gills again in stoppage
time, tipping Wright’s low shot around the post.
Shrewsbury started the second half more
positively and Nick Chadwick came close to scoring in the opening
minute.
The Gills came agonisingly close again moments
later, and it was Daniels who was there again to deny Mark
Stimson’s side a goal, with a one-handed block.
Shrewsbury had to wait until the 53rd minute
to have a shot on target but keeper Simon Royce showed safe hands
to keep them out.
Kevin McIntyre headed wide midway through the
second half and Davies shot over as Shrewsbury began to have their
share of chances.
With Shrewsbury pressure mounting Andy Barcham
had to make a vital defensive tackle to deny Davies after he got in
behind the Gills defence.
Gillingham were hanging on at times but a last
minute corner gave them the chance they needed when Jackson headed
into the top corner to send one half of Wembley into raptures.
Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter,
Richards, King, Weston, Wright, Lewis, Barcham, Jackson, Oli. Subs:
Bentley, Miller, Julian, McCammon, Jarrett.
Shrewsbury: Daniels, Moss,
Ashton (Ashikodi 90mins), Coughlan, Langmead, Davies, Murray
(Worrall 74mins), Holt, Humphrey, Chadwick (Riza 79mins), McIntyre.
Subs: Garner, Cansdell-Sherriff.
Attendance: 53,706.
Don't miss the 16-page Wembley
souvenir special supplement in Monday's Medway
Messenger
Saturday, May 23 2009
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