By Jack Nolan
April 3 2007

Gillingham defender Danny Jackman hit a last minute winner to secure a vital three points for The Gills. Jackman scored in the 88th minute from distance to secure three points for the unconvincing Gillingham side. Gillingham.2.1.Brentford
Priestfield Stadium - Att: 6113
Coca-Cola Football League One
31/3/07

Goals from Andrew Crofts and Danny Jackman eased The Gills' relegation fears in a two goals to one victory over Brentford in a relegation dogfight at Priestfield which appears to all but condemn Brentford to League Two football next season with Brentford sitting bottom of the table.

Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson made several changes to the Gillingham team that were thrashed by five goals to nothing by Carlisle last Saturday. Loanees Dale Tonge and Felix Bastians made their home debuts with Ian Cox and Ben Chorley returning to the Gillingham defence following the five goals conceeded at Carlisle.

The game started with many chances with Gillingham failing to convert. Bastians almost found McDonald but for the ball to just miss the striker, and then the role was reversed when McDonald picked out Bastians who's effort forced Frampton to clear the ball for a corner.

But, from that corner kick Brentford took a shock lead. Southall's corner was collected by Bee's 'keeper Nelson who's long kick found Jo Kuffor who hit into a half open goal to give Brentford an early lead.

The Gills did manage to equalise however before the interval. A Bastians free kick was met by the head of midfielder Andrew Crofts who scored his sixth goal of the season, scoring a vital equaliser for The Gills.

Bastians, who was impressing many Gills fans on his Gillingham home debut at Priestfield, and following his assist for The Gills' equaliser, saw a long range effort deflected and then set Mulligan through who crossed for Southall only for 'Trigger' to head straight at Bee's 'keeper Stuart Nelson.

Both sides had good chances but didn't take them but it was Gillingham who took the vital three points at full time in a key relegation dogfight. Danny Jackman won the ball from a throw in and went for an ambitious effort which found its way ino the back of the net.

The Gills won the three points in unconvincing fashion but are eight points clear of the drop zone with an away trip to Rotherham who are nine points off the pace. Brentford however are also nine points off Cheltenham in 20th who they play next Saturday which will be an interesting battle against relegation at Grffin Park.

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Ronnie Jepson:

"It was a big three points. I wasn't bothered how we got them, as long as we got them. I was after a response from last Saturday and I got that. I have got to give Brentford plenty of credit because that played with a bit of freedom today and they attacked frequently and had very good movement. Fair play to them, they made a good game of it. Brentford has plenty of the ball and at this stage of the season, it comes down to points rather than performances. I am pleased to get those three points today.

"It was always going to be an open-game as Brentford needed to win the game. We knew that. People can say that we need to keep it tight and get a point, which we could have done by shoring it up and putting different personnel out there. I wanted three points on the board today so it was always going to be a bit open. They threw caution to the wind at times but we managed to come away with the three points.

"It was a great delivery from Felix Bastians and Andrew Crofts was on the move with a good finish. I was pleased with that. Felix has great qualities, he has got a good left peg but is just lacking a little match fitness at this moment in time. Everyone could see that he was tiring in the last 20 minutes but he also took one or two bangs today. Fair play to him. "Crofty" did well. He has been away for seven days and he owed us that to come back and get a goal! The goal was different gear and we know he is capable of doing that on numerous occasions.

"I asked Danny Jackman to have a bit more belief in himself and get into that area. I told him to have a go when they back off, rather than passing, as he has that in his locker. It was a goal worthy of winning any game today.

"I think it needed a change at the back after last week and I would say that Brentford's strikers today, they were more livelier than the Carlisle ones. We got our head and bodies in the way, and there were a couple of great blocks from Ian Cox, who had come back in there today. I was pleased with that but have to give credit to Brentford as they put plenty of balls into our box and had good movement in wide areas.

"When you have Lloyd Owusu, Jo Kuffour and Neil Shipperley, they are all good strikers, and the lad Scott Taylor has come on, and they will always cause you problems. We knew they would and have worked on it all week. I thought we started off poor and were very nervous as we knew how desperate we were for the three points. It could have been a carry on from last week but I thought we then got a bit of a foothold in the game and the goal helped us got a bit of confidence.

"Leon Johnson has been different gear for me. The only reason he wasn't on the bench today was because I put young Andy Pugh on there instead. It was a toss-up between Leon and Brent Sancho. I spoke to Leon before the game and he took it in good heart. We have a nice togetherness and just want to get over that line and we'll see where it takes us. Kelvin Jack is back again too. He needs a bit of match practice but we have a few games between now and the end of the season. It is the first time that I have had a couple of goalkeepers at my disposal and when you have them at your use, especially in games as important as this one was, with it being towards the end of the season, I think it would be foolish not to have a 'keeper on the bench."

Scott Fitzgerald:

"We work really hard and talk about the start every week. We started well and went 1-0 up. We'd talked about scoring first and giving ourselves something to hang on, but as soon as we scored we started panicking. And then to concede from a free kick is the story of our season. People are given specific people to mark, they don't mark and it's a goal.

"A draw was no good for us. We needed to try and push on and get a second goal. I felt we did that and were the better side in the second half. We spent long periods in their final third, got the ball in the box but just couldn't take that chance to give us the lead. And while we were pushing on we were always going to leave a bit of room at the back and then they got a late goal. The story of our season.

"Where do we go from here? We start preparing for next week. We've changed training around, we've done different things but ultimately it's the same every weekend. The pressure is coming from the players, not from the supporters or myself. They need to handle it better.

"There's definitely quality and battling qualities, which are there for everyone to see. I don't think Gillingham out-battled or out-passed us. It's still there to do. We've had some words in the changing room. We had words last week and we had words the week before.

"We'll give everything to the last game. People are playing - and I include myself in this - for their futures. If they don't, if they start to waver and don't put in the requirements they won't play.

"I think initially when Shipperley came in, for his first 6/7 games, he was outstanding. But recently the side hasn't played well or Neil hasn't played well. Not sure if it is down to a combination of the two. But we have Lloyd coming back. Maybe it's a good time for Lloyd to come back. He's getting closer and closer to starting. We've got two games over Easter and I'd say Lloyd will definitely play in one of those."

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