A 90th minute Simeon Jackson header was enough to win Gillingham the League Two play-off final against Shrewsbury.
Last minute Jackson header wins League Two play-off final
A 90th minute Simeon Jackson header was enough to win Gillingham the League Two play-off final against Shrewsbury at Wembley.
In a game of very few clear cut chances Gillingham managed to force a corner on the left-hand side through Andy Barcham.
The ball was whipped in and Jackson, unmarked in the centre of the goal, powered his header goalwards to see it go in off the post and over the line despite Shrews goalkeeper Luke Daniels' best efforts.
Gillingham dominated proceedings in the first period but didn't trouble Daniels until the 31st minute when a corner from the left was dummied at the near post and met by John Nutter whose left footed shot was pushed over by the Shrews shot-stopper.
Shrewsbury made the clash a much more even contest in the second period as they pushed further forward in search of the opener with Kevin McIntyre guilty of missing the game's best chance in the 64th minute.
But with the game looking certain to go into extra-time up popped Jackson to claim his 21st goal of the season and send the Gills back into League One at the first time of asking.
Quiet opening
The first 20 minutes of the game passed with little more than mild panic at either end, but slowly it was Gillingham who got a grip on the encounter even if their attacking threat was nullified by the Shrews defence.
Shrewsbury skipper Graham Coughlan diverted a Nutter free-kick just past his own post, and from the corner Wright fired over the top.
Gillingham were almost in again when some smart play ended with Barry Fuller's cross being flicked on by Dennis Oli and Neil Moss tidied up well at the back post.
The Gills worked the next corner well as Barcham left the ball for Nutter, whose powerful shot was diverted over the top by a combination of Grant Holt and goalkeeper Daniels.
Daniels was the busier of the keepers in the first-half and he was called into action in the dying stages of the first half, diving low to his right to claw away a Wright shot through a crowd of players.
The second half started in a similar fashion as Barcham wriggled free and cut inside before unleashing a right-foot shot which was bound for the top corner only for Daniels pushed it away.
Gills keeper Simon Royce made his first save of note not long after when a long Coughlan free-kick was headed on by Kelvin Langmead for Davies to strike goalwards, but Royce clung on.
Towering header
And Langmead caused problems with another towering header across goal, but McIntyre's diving header was horribly wide.
A smart move gave Davies a clear run at goal, but his touch was heavy, allowing Barcham to get back and make a saving challenge, and Royce saved Langmead's header from the resulting corner.
But after weathering the storm, the Gills took the lead as stoppage time approached from a Wright corner, which Jackson headed home despite the efforts of Ashton on the line.
The Shrews threw everyone forward and Davies crossed for Coughlan, but he headed over the top, but the Gills held on.
| Gillingham |
Team Statistics |
Shrewsbury Town |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 9 |
Corners |
1 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
18 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 75.3 |
Passing Success |
69.6 |
| 15 |
Tackles |
33 |
| 80 |
Tackles Success |
75.8 |
| 56.7 |
Possession |
43.3 |
| 54.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
45.5 |
|
