Club News
Gravesham 1-4 Gillingham Ladies Reserves
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on January 24, 2010
Gills Ladies Reserves eased into the second round of the League Cup after a comfortable victory over local rivals Gravesham this afternoon.
It was the fourth attempt that both sides have made at playing this game, with it first being called off for a waterlogged pitch then snow and once again a waterlogged pitch.
Having not played since mid November the Ladies could be forgiven for being a bit rusty as they kicked off the game.
They did not show that they hadn’t played for well over two months when they took the lead in the 15th minute. It was Kylie Overton who gave the Gills that lead with a sweetly struck right foot shot from the inform striker.
It was the way it stayed during the first half, although they can count themselves unlucky not to have gone in further in front after creating a number of chances.
Half time 0-1
After shaking off any signs of not having played for so long in the first half the Gills got back to playing the football they are capable of in the second half.
Soon after the second half kicked off the Gills went 2-0 up thanks to good inter play between Leanne Stevens and Hannah Corrall who found Anelle Massey who drove her shot from 20 yards into the bottom corner.
The Gills then pressed forward in the ensuing ten minutes in an effort to kill off the game but they were left exposed at the back and conceded a needless penalty. The penalty was subsequently scored and meant that the Cup tie was back in the balance once more.
The game was finally put beyond any doubt in the 85th minute when recent signing Sammy Lester ironically who signed from Gravesham, rose highest and powered home a header from a Leanne Stevens corner.
It will have been a sweet moment for the young defender who scored her first goals in the Blue of the Gills, but also because she captained the side for the first time against her old team.
The final five minutes turned into the Gemma Ridge show as she first had a shot cleared off the line, and then one hit the post as she tried to close the game out for her side.
The Gills confirmed their place in the second round when they made it 4-1 in the last minute when Gemma Ridge slotted home her first goal of the season, after missing three chances previously.
The Gills now move into the second round where they will face Surrey based side Milford & Whitley for a place in round three.
Gills: Nunn, Bolden, Lester (c), Foster, Scott, Massey (Ridge, 78), Corrall (Phillips, 60), Stevens, Russ, Overton, Harris (Goodall, 65)
Gravesham: Johnson, Baxter, Rowley, Terry, Conroy, Lee, Rowley, Taylor, Sharkey, Witham, Wigan
Subs: Roussounis, Counter, Coyne