Saturday 1 May - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace

Gills took the game to Southampton right from the off and the pace of Dennis Oli and Simeon Jackson combined with the strength and purpose of Rene Howe won them a couple of corners in the first minutes.

Gills showed that at last they had some variation on the normal corner routine with a new twist from Adam Miler, which cleverly set up Andy Barcham, but as the Gills winger ran into the area he stumbled from a tackle and went down. The referee waved away protests for a penalty.

The Saints are a good passing outfit and their crisp movement around the Priestfield pitch was obviously going to cause Gills problems throughout the afternoon. So Gills could have done without Curtis Weston giving the ball away to allow David Connolly to run in on goal but his volley on the run whipped past Alan Julian’s post.

Gills kept the pressure on the Saints back four as they battled for the opening goal to help ease the tension and Simeon Jackson had a great opportunity with eight minutes on the clock.

Jack Payne put over an excellent cross but Simeon could only put a weak header straight at Kelvin Davis in the Saints goal.

Rene Howe (right) was proving a handful for the Saints defence and on a 50/50 ball with Jose Fonte the Southampton centre back went to ground leaving Rene a free run on goal. The Saints defender grabbed the ball stopping the Rene Howe run and was lucky just to receive a yellow card from the referee.

The Southampton attack was dangerous in flashes and the talented Jason Puncheon had a great chance to put them ahead when Joseph Mills rounded the Gills defence and put over a peach of a cross. Jason scissor kicked the ball towards the Gills goal at pace but thankfully straight at Alan Julian who saved well.

20 minutes into the match and Gills deservedly went ahead through a route one ball hit smoothly straight down the centre of the pitch. Simeon Jackson was up and running and was battling with the booked centre back Fonte to try and get the ball under control.

Saints goalie Kelvin Davis (left) came out to help his centre back control the bouncing ball but as he tried to hack clear, Simeon Jackson tried to shoot, all three players ended up in a heap. The ball ran clear but Rene Howe following up calmly took control and from 12 yards scored into an empty net.

As the half wore on Gills showed no signs of letting the pace slack and continued to pressure the Saints defence. They obviously would have liked another goal but for all their pressure they were not creating many clear-cut chances to really test Davis.

Southampton manager Alan Pardew had the League One’s top scorer, Rickie Lambert on the bench plus other strong players, and as the half time whistle sounded must have been confident of a better second period.

Pardew did make two changes at the start of the second half bringing on Dan Seaborne for the booked Fonte at centre half and Rickie Lambert to bolster attacking options.

Within minutes Saints other free scoring forward, Lee Barnard, tried his luck from 20 yards, which took a slight deflection and dropped just over Alan Julian’s bar.

Six minutes in and Gills got their second goal. Simeon Jackson who headed the ball against the foot of the post when it was easier to find the net had met a good free kick.

However Gills managed to get the ball out to Curtis Weston on the left and he delivered a brilliant cross back into the box.

Josh Gowling (right) who had advanced for the initial free kick, had stayed in the box, and met the Weston cross heading down into the bottom corner with Kelvin Davis groping thin air.

Southampton were stunned and their defence looked ragged at that point. For the next 10 or so minutes Gills attacked non-stop in efforts to put the game beyond reach. Simeon Jackson came extremely close to scoring the Gills third but his shot was well saved. Then Gills captain Mark Bentley saw a well-directed header into the top corner of the net cleared off the line by Joseph Mills.

Alan Pardew then made his final change replacing Lee Barnard who was carrying an injury by introducing the pacey Papa Waigo who very nearly scored with his first touch only for Mark Bentley to slide and block his shot.

Simeon Jackson was trying very hard up front to get that all-important Gills third and nearly managed to bundle the ball home but the Saints defenders stopped his effort at the last moment and deflected the ball for a corner.

Then Saints were gifted a lifeline on 66 minutes, The impressive Jason Puncheon was quick to pick upon a mistake and mix up between Adam Miller and Josh Gowling and put a through ball to the quick thinking David Connolly (lef). He ran on and shot low into the net giving Alan Julian no chance.

Southampton immediately went up a gear and almost scored a second when the dangerous Rickie Lambert who was roving across the pitch hit a volley that was tipped over by Alan Julian.

Saints were beginning to gain the upper hand and Gills defence were under pressure and looking nervous considering their league position but were holding on despite a succession of crosses from both flanks.

Gills manager Mark Stimson brought on Chris Dickson on 88 minutes replacing the unlucky Simeon Jackson. The fourth official indicated four minutes of added time that was disputed by a stressed Mark Stimson on the touchline.

It was a nervy finish but when the final whistle sounded there was huge celebrations with jubilant Rainham End fans running onto the pitch.

A great all-round team performance by the Gills and although not quite safe for League One football next season as they require one more point this win and the three points were vital.

Gills: Alan Julian, Jack Payne, Mark Bentley, Josh Gowling, John Nutter, Dennis Oli, Adam Miller, Curtis Weston, Andy Barcham, Rene Howe and Simeon Jackson (Chris Dickson 88 minutes)

Substitutes: Simon Royce, Kevin Maher, Chris Palmer, Simeon Jackman, Tom Wynter and Luke Rooney

Southampton: Davis, Otsemobor, Martin, Fonte (Seaborne 46 minutes), Mills, Hammond, James, Lallana (Lambert 46 minutes), Puncheon, Barnard (N’Daiye 59 minutes) and Connolly

Substitutes: Bialkowski, Wotton, McNish and Chamberlain

Attendance: 9,504