Gillingham 1 Darlington 0

Match 50/08/734 - Tuesday, 10th March 2009 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 Jackson 90 (pen)
Darlington (0) 0
Att. 4,730

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/6,590

Match Report

Buckle up your seats, folks. Fellow coffin dodgers in the Gordon Road Stand, stow away your thermos flasks safely under the seat, because at 21.36 last night we officially entered the time of season less than affectionately known as Squeaky-bum time.

After 93 frustrating minutes, Darlington defender Alan White’s hand instinctively controlled a bounce and Simeon Jackson was given the chance to win the game from the penalty spot. While all around Priestfield lower region cheeks became clenched, Jackson was calmness personified as he sent the Darlo keeper, Andy Oakes the wrong way to bury his shot into the bottom left hand side, to cue delight and relief in equal measures.

The collective holding of breath should not have been necessary as Gillingham dominated the second half, had the ball in net only for the referee to bring the game back to award Gillingham a free kick and for the ultimate hero Jackson to produce an air shot directly in front of goal only a minute from time.

Gillingham started the game like a train, Adam Miller bursting into the box but his effort was blocked away for a corner, the first of a series before the early steam ran out. Darlington then stepped into the game and Simon Royce needed to be at his best to palm away a really good effort from Ryan Valentine. Adam Griffin blazed high towards the 50 or so Darlo fans huddled together in the Brian Moore Stand and a couple of other half-chances passed them by. In the midst of this spell, Curtis Weston fired just wide a good effort from 25 yards out.

Referee Steve Bratt, unfortunately, because I felt he was one of the better officials seen this season, became centre stage on 55 minutes when he disallowed Mark McCammon’s goal. It is more annoying that the game is called back to award the scoring side a free kick, but in fairness to Mr Bratt, the whistle had sounded before the big striker beat keeper Oakes.

Andy Barcham came off the bench on the hour, returning from injury to breathe new life into the Gillingham cause and he quickly produced a chance for Nicky Southall who shot wildly over when a cross seemed a much better option.

It was Barcham again who produced the last minute chance for Jackson, who inexplicably failed to make a connection when in front of goal from just five yards or so. It seemed that the night was going to end in disappointment until White’s hand intervened and Jackson’s nerve held.

After the final whistle had sounded, further encouragement was added with news of defeats for Exeter and Bradford lifting the Gills two places up the table and just a point off the automatic places. Another nervous Saturday beckons with the visit of Shrewsbury, where a win would put Gillingham six points clear off the Shrews, the team presently on the outside of the play-off places. If your heart felt it was leaping clear of your mouth whilst Jackson prepared last night, be prepared, because worse is yet to come!