Gillingham 2 Huddersfield Town 0
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Gillingham's two-goal hero Simeon Jackson
tries to break through the Huddersfield
defence
Picture: Barry Goodiwn
by Luke Cawdell
Simeon Jackson’s double for Gillingham sealed a valuable three
points against Huddersfield in League 1 at Priestfield.
Jackson scored with just seven minutes gone to give the Gills
the early advantage over their promotion-chasing opponents, and
they never looked back.
Huddersfield’s hopes of levelling things up were dented after 26
minutes, when wide-man Nathan Eccleston was sent-off for a crude
challenge on Stuart Lewis, and they were two behind seconds after
the restart when Jackson struck again.
Gills boss Mark Stimson said: “There possibly
weren’t many people expecting us to win that game, but we
thoroughly deserved it against a strong Huddersfield side.
“We set our stall out from the start to put
pressure on them and that’s what we did. There were two great
strikes from Simeon Jackson.
“His first goal was a fantastic strike and it
came from some great pressure by Adam Miller. I think the second
goal was even better as it was a great finish on the outside of his
boot.
“Maybe with a bit better finishing from the
team we could have scored even more but we’ll take the two. It was
a very good win against a team chasing a play-off position.”
Reacting to the tackle on Lewis, Stimson
said: “It was a horrible tackle, but he got over it.
“I don’t think that helped us because after that the 10 got
better and sometimes that happens for some crazy reason. They had a
go and at the end of the game Huddersfield had all of their
strikers on.”
Jackson put Gillingham ahead with just seven minutes
gone. Miller closed down a clearance from Robbie Williams and
passed the ball to the Gills' top scorer, who did the rest from 25
yards.
It was a richly-deserved goal for the Gills as they started the
first half at a fast tempo. In the opening six minutes Rene Howe
had two shots on goal, both which were saved by ‘keeper Alex
Smithies.
As early as the fourth minute Smithies was in trouble with the
referee after fouling Jackson when well out of his area. There were
calls for a sending off from the crowd, but referee Fred Graham
produced a yellow.
If Graham had been lenient on Smithies there was no question of
him doing the same for winger Eccleston, as his hard tackle
on Lewis midway through the half earned him a straight red
card.
Lewis had got the nod ahead of Chris Palmer to play right-back
and he was lucky to be able to continue following prolonged
treatment by physio Paul Wilson.
Chances followed for the Gills with Garry Richards heading into
the keeper’s hands and Andy Barcham, back in the starting eleven
for the first time since the home defeat to Tranmere, sending a
shot just wide.
Huddersfield weren’t out of it and finished the half well.
Richards nearly turned the ball into his own net from Anthony
Pilkington’s cross and moments later he did well to block Lee
Novak’s powerful shot.
If Town thought they were in trouble at the break it took just
20 seconds of second half action before Gillingham doubled the
lead. Jackson raced onto a flick from Howe and smashed the ball
past Smithies.
Howe should have added a third on the hour, after Jackson turned
provider, but a poor touch when clean through allowed Smithies to
gather.
Jackson came close to an equaliser with 15 minutes
left from Dennis Oli’s cross, and thanks to a great dummy from
Andy Barcham, but he was foiled by a double save from Smithies.
Town ended the game with some fight and Gary Roberts struck the
post ten minutes later. Julian also had to make a good save to deny
fellow sub Theo Robinson.
Gills: Julian, Lewis, Nutter, Richard, Dennehy,
Jackman, Miller, Barcham, Weston, Jackson, Howe (Oli 73mins). Subs
not used: Royce, Maher, Bentley, Palmer, Dickson, Walker.
Huddersfield: Smithies, T Clarke, Williams
(Robinson 74mins), P Clarke, Trotman, Eccleston, Pilkington
(Roberts 61mins), Kay (Collins 54mins), Drinkwater, Rhodes, Novak.
Subs not used: Eastwood, Berrett, Pearce, N Clarke.
Attendance: 5,388
Saturday, March 06 2010
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