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Last-gasp Jackson snatches point

Gillingham celebrate their last gasp leveller. Picture: Matthew Walker
Gillingham celebrate their last gasp leveller. Picture: Matthew Walker

Barnet 2 Gillingham 2

Simeon Jackson�s 90th minute equaliser earned Gillingham a 2-2 draw against Barnet at Underhill in League 2 on Saturday.

Goals from John O�Flynn and Michael Leary, either side of Andy Barcham�s leveller, looked to have been enough to guide the home side to their first win since October.

But Jackson popped up to score his 10th goal of the season and send the travelling fans home happy.

Barnet started brightly and came close to opening the scoring after just three minutes when John O�Flynn's shot flew just wide of the post.

Gillingham had the ball in the net on 13 minutes but Jackson�s effort was ruled out for offside.

Albert Adomah headed just wide for the home side before Barcham caused panic in the Barnet area with a cross which just failed to find Jackson.

John Nutter saw his driven effort pushed round the post by Rob Beckwith on 35 minutes.

Gillingham�s best chance came just two minutes later when Barcham�s shot took a deflection off Jeremy De Magalhaes and crashed against the post.

Jackson then saw another effort well saved by Beckwith before Max Porter�s shot was pushed round the post by Gills keeper Simon Royce.

In the second half, Barnet needed just 12 seconds to take the lead when Michael Leary burst through the middle and fired home with a powerful shot.

Gillingham pushed forward in search of an equaliser and on 57 minutes Adam Miller fired wide.

However, the visitors pulled level on 68 minutes when Barcham cut in from the left before racing inside the area and seeing his initial shot blocked by a Barnet defender. The rebound fell straight to his feet and he made no mistake as he fired the ball into the bottom left corner.

Gillingham�s joy was shortlived, though, and Barnet were back in front just two minutes later when O�Flynn got up highest to head home Nicky Deverdic's cross.

The Gills looked to be heading for defeat before Garry Richards long throw was flicked into the path of Jackson, who fired past Beckwith.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson said: "I thought the boys were absolutely fantastic. I said to them after the game that if we keep playing like that until the end of the season, we won�t be far off.

�It was a test, because we played against a team who set out to put us out of our stride physically, but that�s a compliment to the boys.

�We�ve got good football players and sometimes people try to bully you or get involved.

At the end, and after being behind twice, I think we at least deserved a point.�


Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Richards, Bentley (Mulligan 78mins), Jackson, Miller, Weston, Jarrett (Southall 64mins), Barcham. Subs not used: Lewis, Pugh, Mills.

Attendance: 2,248.

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