Nearly: Edwards came close

High-flying Gillingham owed as much to some stout-hearted defending as they did to goal snatcher Simeon Jackson for ensuring that Notts completed a fifth consecutive game without a win.

Gillingham had to withstand a terrific amount of pressure after taking a 58th-minute lead but they stood up well to it and provided great cover for goalkeeper Simon Royce.

He was beaten only once - ten minutes from the end - by a strong header by Notts central defender Michael Edwards but Barry Fuller stood firm on the line and headed clear.

Edwards' opportunity arose from County's 11th corner in the game, eight of them coming in the second period which for the meagre crowd, offered better fare than the first 45 minutes.

In that period the only real chances were two which fell to Gillingham, both Mark McCammon and Jackson finishing wide of the target when they should at least have troubled Kevin Pilkington in the Notts goal.

Gillingham central defender Mark Bentley neglected his rearguard duties to give the visitors an extra dimension up front in a decisive spell soon after half-time.

After 55 minutes Bentley contributed a great run before placing the ball perfectly for Jackson who fired over. The diminutive marksman atoned three minutes lately, Bentley again being involved in the build-up. This time Jackson swivelled on the ball and hit a left-foot drive low into the far corner.

Gillingham subsequently scarcely had chance to double their lead as Notts poured forward in search of an equaliser.

Delroy Facey, who had missed an opportunity in the first half, was again wide of the target and a number of other efforts were blocked by the well-drilled visitors' defence.

Though Notts manager Ian McParland threw on an extra forward in the late stages, Sean Canham failed, like the others, to make any inroads as Notts went gone down at home for the eighth time this season.