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Jackson hands Gills lifeline

Winner: Simeon Jackson celebrates Gillingham's crucial second goal. Picture: Matthew Reading
Winner: Simeon Jackson celebrates Gillingham's crucial second goal. Picture: Matthew Reading

Gillingham 2 Luton 1

Simeon Jackson struck two late goals to rescue a priceless three points for Gillingham on Tuesday night.

The striker scored his first with fifteen minutes to go, which cancelled out Sam Parkin’s early opener and he popped up to head home the winner, with three minutes to go.

Gills boss Mark Stimson hailed his side's "heroic" performance which took them to within a point of safety.

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"We started at a reasonable pace but unfortunately we conceded a goal and as it went in the whole stadium was stunned," he said.

"I wasn't too happy at half-time and I said to the boys, 'there's 45 minutes to go and this is it, what have you got? Are you the one to be the hero?' That crowd was desperate for a hero, it was absolutely fantastic and the volume was good.

"In the second half every player played their part and they should all be classed as heroes, because they all put a shift in and they got the three points. That now sets it up for the remaining five games."

Gillingham went behind after just nine minutes, when a mix-up in defence allowed Luton striker Parkin to nip in and send a looping header over keeper Derek Stillie.

Midway through the half Parkin nearly grabbed a second, when he headed wide, with just Stillie to beat after being left unmarked.

Gills’ best chances fell to Dennis Oli but the striker saw all four shots on target but saved by keeper Dean Brill.

Simeon Jackson had two great chances to level in the second half. His first effort was well saved by Brill, when he was clean through and soon afterwards, Sol Davies cleared his goal-bound shot.

Jackson finally scored after 75 minutes when he headed home a lose ball after Leroy Griffiths’ ball into the box caused panic in the Luton defence and in the dying minutes he pounced again as Gills took the points.

Gillingham: Stillie, King, Crofts, Bentley, Southall, Jackson, Oli (Simmonds 84mins), Nutter (Griffiths 60mins), Miller (Ba 67mins), Richards, Cullip.

Subs not used: Kiely, Fuller. Attendance: 6,142.

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