can_footy Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 A 90th minute striker by Canadian forward Simeon Jackson has given the Gills the winner at Wembley!! Surely this is great news for Simeon but also for Canada..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desigol Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Excellent News. Gills and Brentford both promoted. Just what I wanted to see happen prior to the Start of the Season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desigol Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Excellent News. Gills and Brentford both promoted. Just what I wanted to see happen prior to the Start of the Season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe MacCarthy Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Gillingham 1-0 Shrewsbury Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at Wembley Simeon Jackson sent Gills back to League One Striker Simeon Jackson scored the only goal with a late header as Gillingham dramatically won the League Two play-off final at Wembley. The match appeared to be heading for extra-time before Jackson's 90th minute finish from Josh Wright's corner settled the tie in his team's favour. Shrewsbury had come into the match in the second half after a disappointing opening 45 minutes and should have scored through Kevin McIntyre but he headed wide from six yards, while Ben Davies had a volley saved. And their failure to convert their chances was punished when Gills top scorer Jackson struck to ensure that the Gills return straight back to League One. Gills boss Mark Stimson has rebuilt his side since taking over as manager in November 2007 and promotion is vindication of his methods after he failed to prevent them from slipping to relegation last season. It might have been a different story if Shrewsbury had taken the lead inside the first minute, but Gills skipper Barry Fuller ended a moment of panic by smashing the loose ball clear from eight yards before his own keeper or anybody from the opposition could reach it. The opening half hour was largely disappointing, and neither team managed a shot on target until John Nutter's sweet 14-yard left-foot strike forced Luke Daniels into action after 31 minutes. Gillingham, unchanged from the team that defeated Rochdale in their semi-final tie, were the far better side before the break, with the likes of Curtis Weston, Dennis Oli and Barcham showing a willingness to run at the opposition. Stimson's side often worked the ball forward with some style but frequently disappointed with the quality of their crossing. However, Graham Coughlan and Darren Moss both had to make hasty clearances from balls swung in from the right, while Wright shot over from 20 yards after a corner was half cleared. The Shrews looked nervous and struggled to retain possession - and by the break had only a Davies free-kick that drifted wide of the post to show for their efforts. In fact, they might have conceded in injury-time after Wright drilled a low shot across goal through a cluster of players but Daniels made a sharp save diving low to his right. The pattern looked set to continue after the break, with Barcham turning his marker inside and out before forcing Daniels to make a decent one-handed save with a strike from a tight angle. But the Shrews fired a warning to their opponents through Davies, who pounced on a misdirected defensive header from the otherwise excellent Simon King and forced Simon Royce into action with a rasping volley. The Shropshire team grew in confidence and for the first time in the match Shrewsbury had a sustained spell of possession. McIntyre ought to have given them the lead but headed wide from inside the six-yard box. It was an awful miss from the 28-year-old midfielder but at least his team were starting to show some attacking threat. In contrast with the drab opening half, the final had finally become a contest, with both sides enjoys periods in the ascendancy. The largely peripheral Jackson miscued for the Gills, while Davies was played clean through for Shrewsbury but could not quite get his shot off under pressure. Shrews boss Paul Simpson brought on David Worrall and Omer Riza as his team looked for the opening goal but as time ticked down, there seemed to be little prospect of a decisive finish from either side before Jackson, who had otherwise had a quite afternoon, struck. Coughlan almost restored parity for the Shrews but could not keep is header on target and the Shrews tasted Wembley disappointment again after their defeat to Bristol Rovers in the League Two play-off final in 2007. Gillingham: Royce, Fuller, Richards, King, Nutter, Lewis, Weston, Wright, Oli, Jackson, Barcham. Subs Not Used: Julian, Bentley, Miller, McCammon, Jarrett. Booked: Weston. Goals: Jackson 90. Shrewsbury: Daniels, Darren Moss, Langmead, Coughlan, Ashton, Humphrey (Ashikodi 90), Davies, Murray (Worrall 74), McIntyre, Holt, Chadwick (Riza 79). Subs Not Used: Garner, Cansdell-Sherriff. Booked: Coughlan, Murray, Holt. Att: 53,706. Ref: Clive Oliver (Northumberland). BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Shrewsbury's Luke Daniels (8.19 on 90 minutes). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe MacCarthy Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Gillingham 1-0 Shrewsbury Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at Wembley Simeon Jackson sent Gills back to League One Striker Simeon Jackson scored the only goal with a late header as Gillingham dramatically won the League Two play-off final at Wembley. The match appeared to be heading for extra-time before Jackson's 90th minute finish from Josh Wright's corner settled the tie in his team's favour. Shrewsbury had come into the match in the second half after a disappointing opening 45 minutes and should have scored through Kevin McIntyre but he headed wide from six yards, while Ben Davies had a volley saved. And their failure to convert their chances was punished when Gills top scorer Jackson struck to ensure that the Gills return straight back to League One. Gills boss Mark Stimson has rebuilt his side since taking over as manager in November 2007 and promotion is vindication of his methods after he failed to prevent them from slipping to relegation last season. It might have been a different story if Shrewsbury had taken the lead inside the first minute, but Gills skipper Barry Fuller ended a moment of panic by smashing the loose ball clear from eight yards before his own keeper or anybody from the opposition could reach it. The opening half hour was largely disappointing, and neither team managed a shot on target until John Nutter's sweet 14-yard left-foot strike forced Luke Daniels into action after 31 minutes. Gillingham, unchanged from the team that defeated Rochdale in their semi-final tie, were the far better side before the break, with the likes of Curtis Weston, Dennis Oli and Barcham showing a willingness to run at the opposition. Stimson's side often worked the ball forward with some style but frequently disappointed with the quality of their crossing. However, Graham Coughlan and Darren Moss both had to make hasty clearances from balls swung in from the right, while Wright shot over from 20 yards after a corner was half cleared. The Shrews looked nervous and struggled to retain possession - and by the break had only a Davies free-kick that drifted wide of the post to show for their efforts. In fact, they might have conceded in injury-time after Wright drilled a low shot across goal through a cluster of players but Daniels made a sharp save diving low to his right. The pattern looked set to continue after the break, with Barcham turning his marker inside and out before forcing Daniels to make a decent one-handed save with a strike from a tight angle. But the Shrews fired a warning to their opponents through Davies, who pounced on a misdirected defensive header from the otherwise excellent Simon King and forced Simon Royce into action with a rasping volley. The Shropshire team grew in confidence and for the first time in the match Shrewsbury had a sustained spell of possession. McIntyre ought to have given them the lead but headed wide from inside the six-yard box. It was an awful miss from the 28-year-old midfielder but at least his team were starting to show some attacking threat. In contrast with the drab opening half, the final had finally become a contest, with both sides enjoys periods in the ascendancy. The largely peripheral Jackson miscued for the Gills, while Davies was played clean through for Shrewsbury but could not quite get his shot off under pressure. Shrews boss Paul Simpson brought on David Worrall and Omer Riza as his team looked for the opening goal but as time ticked down, there seemed to be little prospect of a decisive finish from either side before Jackson, who had otherwise had a quite afternoon, struck. Coughlan almost restored parity for the Shrews but could not keep is header on target and the Shrews tasted Wembley disappointment again after their defeat to Bristol Rovers in the League Two play-off final in 2007. Gillingham: Royce, Fuller, Richards, King, Nutter, Lewis, Weston, Wright, Oli, Jackson, Barcham. Subs Not Used: Julian, Bentley, Miller, McCammon, Jarrett. Booked: Weston. Goals: Jackson 90. Shrewsbury: Daniels, Darren Moss, Langmead, Coughlan, Ashton, Humphrey (Ashikodi 90), Davies, Murray (Worrall 74), McIntyre, Holt, Chadwick (Riza 79). Subs Not Used: Garner, Cansdell-Sherriff. Booked: Coughlan, Murray, Holt. Att: 53,706. Ref: Clive Oliver (Northumberland). BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Shrewsbury's Luke Daniels (8.19 on 90 minutes). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Dunfield didn't dress? If anyone has a clip please post it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolando Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Man - talk about a roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolando Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 53,706 people - that's the beautiful side of promotion- relegation. What an exciting ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maccaliam Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Originally posted by nolando 53,706 people - that's the beautiful side of promotion- relegation. What an exciting ride. [/quote The commentator here said that with attendance being so high, it worked out to 1 in 3 people living in Gillingham and Shrewsbury were at the match today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcuse Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Yes Jackson!! Here is his post-game interview... http://www.skysports.com/video/clips/0,23791,12606_5344788,00.html?ssvTab=2&ssvSelectedTab=12600&ssvBasket=12606&ssvPage=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadasBest Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 This is the only video of the goal i've seen. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolando Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by gwallace76 This is the only video of the goal i've seen. lol that is absolutely priceless - maybe we can hire them (him?) to do a highlight reel of best canadian goals of all time -lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 He's quick, he can finish, he takes penalties and he can head http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQm3-gW-OPA What was Shrewsbury thinking no one is close to Jackson in goal totals and a small player like him is allowed near that ball in the 90th minute? Excellent header Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bob Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 As a Charlton fan, I have to be happy with Josh Wright's cross too! I couldn't have picked a much better connection if you'd let me. Congrats to Simeon and to Gillingham. Looking forward to see him strut his stuff at the Gold Cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 CONGRATS SIMEON!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natesta Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Nice shot of Jackson just after heading the ball. Someone made it into a background and I'm not sure if I can make it smaller here. http://www.gillsisc.co.uk/goal.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razcle Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Priceless. I believe he got the call against Cyprus for the next nats game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronto MB Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Sigma, that is astonishing isn't it. And even in 2007 I don't think anyone really thought that he was making a huge impact for the U-20's. Whereas if you look at Hume, who was playing with Tranmere (League One) in 2003 - he just about got us to the quarter-finals of the WYC on his own. He is a late developer Simeon, either that or nobody gave him a real chance earlier. Some of the goals he scored with Rushden and D were pretty spectacular. Keep it up Jacko! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadasBest Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Article from Saturday http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2009/05/jackson_shows_why_you_should_n.html#088330 Sweet success for Jackson and Stimson Paul Fletcher | 20:59 UK time, Saturday, 23 May 2009 At Wembley Stadium Like a seagull caught in a squall far out at sea, Gillingham striker Simeon Jackson spent most of Saturday afternoon blown badly off course. Plenty of the build-up to the League Two play-off final had focused on the Canadian's burgeoning reputation and his 20 goals this season. He was touted as a matchwinner. But, try as he might, for most of the final against Shrewsbury the 22-year-old seemed unable to make any sort of impact. He failed to make a clean contact with the few shooting opportunities that came his way, had little change from Shrews defender Graham Coughlan in the air and was often frustrated with his attempts to link play with his team-mates. When I looked back over my notes from the match there was nothing that Jackson would have remembered fondly - until the very end. For having refused to yield to an afternoon that was not going his way, Jackson finally found himself in space as Josh Wright swung in a 90th-minute corner and showed great skill to head the ball past the despairing effort of Shrews defender Neil Ashton and into the top corner. It was a very difficult header to execute because the ball was slightly behind him but he showed enough flexibility and instinct to adjust his body shape and find the net. Job done. Headlines written - and the previous 90 minutes consigned to an insignificant memory. Simeon Jackson scores Gillingham's winner against ShrewsburySuch is the life of a striker - not that Jackson is just any old forward. He might not be particularly tall or powerful but his story is one that hints at a steely determination to succeed Jackson left his home near Toronto at the age of 15 to try to make it as a professional in England, but all did not go to plan. He had been spotted in Canada by a Gillingham scout and arrived in England with a deal arranged with the Kent club. Unfortunately for Jackson they released him after a matter of months. It was a difficult time for the youngster, who was living with an aunt in Croydon. In addition to the hammer blow of being cast aside by Gillingham, he didn't particularly like the food in England and found that some people laughed at his accent. Lesser men might have quit, but not Jackson. He had trials at various clubs, played for the likes of Dulwich Hamlet and Roehampton and finally earned a deal with Rushden & Diamonds. While at Rushden he had a brief trial at Manchester United and although that did not work out it strengthened his resolve. His form for the Diamonds eventually earned him his move to the Gills in January 2008. Their initial error in releasing him cost them £150,000. Jackson has handsomely justified the Gills investment but he hasn't won everybody over yet. Some supporters still harbour reservations about him and one local Gillingham newspaper this week suggested he was too lightweight. Gillingham boss Mark Stimson, reflecting on Jackson's winning goal, said: "I hope they give him some credit now. "He did not have the best of games but when the opportunity came up it was not luck that he was in the right place. "Simeon is a big game player." Jackson proved that when he scored in an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa earlier in the season. And having now notched the winner at Wembley comes the inevitable question of whether the striker will still be a Gillingham player next season. "I have honestly not had one phone call about him," said Stimson. "Managers have watched him, probably since the Villa game, but some might think that he needs another year. He can be a big player for us next season." If Jackson's football career has been far from straightforward, then the same can be said of Stimson's tenure as Gillingham manager. He arrived at the club from Stevenage in November 2007 with a track record of success in non-league football having won the FA Trophy for three consecutive years. The 41-year-old made plenty of changes at the Priestfield Stadium, bringing in several players from non-league such as Dennis Oli and the brilliantly named John Nutter, but he could not prevent the club from slipping to relegation. The current season did not start convincingly - the Gills lost 7-0 at Shrewsbury in early September - and difficult questions needed answering. There was a rift in the squad between the senior players he inherited and the young, hungry professionals he brought to the club. After a 3-0 defeat to Exeter a fews weeks on from the Shrewsbury debacle Stimson replaced Andrew Crofts with Barry Fuller as captain. "There have been some big decisions made at the club," said Stimson after the victory at Wembley. "The 7-0 hurt, relegation hurt more than you can imagine. "I made a big decision in leaving the old captain out and we have a captain now who wants to win matches and move the club forward." There must have been moments of doubt for Stimson as he battled against factions that opposed his philosophy of success through hard work (his decision to start pre-season on 1 June was not universally popular) but he took heart last summer from a conversation with Keith Peacock. A former Gillingham manager, Peacock likened relegation to a boxer taking a count of eight and asked how the Gills boss was going to react. Stimson resolved to climb off the canvas. Mark Stimson Listening to Stimson it is obvious that he is a mentally strong man who is driven to succeed. Less than an hour after victory he was already talking about meeting a midfielder he wants to sign and looking forward to next season. He hasn't taken a holiday in three years and does not expect more than four or five days away with his family this summer. Stimson has carried out major surgery at the club and victory on Saturday was vindication of what he has done. And there is no doubt that his team deserved to win. Shrewsbury manager Paul Simpson was honest and big enough to admit that. Gillingham played attractive, ambitious football, with Oli and Andy Barcham very lively in wide positions while Josh Wright and Curtis Weston were clever and creative on Wembley's lush new turf. Shrewsbury improved after the break but the team from Kent could have secured victory far earlier than Jackson's late winner but for the form of goalkeeper Luke Daniels. In truth - and despite the dramatic finish - it was a slightly disappointing spectacle, particularly during the opening 45 minutes, and I hope that Sunday's League One final is a little heavier on goals and entertainment. Not that Gillingham fans will be in any way bothered. As I left Wembley a couple of hours after the final whistle a few of them were still around the stadium basking in their glory. I was slightly confused, however, by the sight of loads of middle-aged women wearing Kim Wilde and Rick Astley T-shirts. It turned out the aforementioned stars of the Eighties were playing a concert at Wembley Arena on Saturday evening. I doubt whether Jackson has even heard of them and they don't strike me as Stimson's cup of tea either. Gillingham's celebrations are one of a club moving forward not reflecting on the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.