Club News
Varley: It shows the character of our team
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on March 29, 2010
Gills Ladies beat Enfield for the fourth time this season on Sunday afternoon but it was by no means their best performance of the season. They showed that they are a side of great quality as they ground out a hard fought win that the manager Ian Varley was rightly proud of.
Talking about the game, he said: “It was a very hard fought victory and full credit to Enfield who really gave us a game today. “Yes we weren’t at our best but it shows the character of our team that we can also grind out results. For me it’s the best result of the season!”
With rivals Norwich losing Ian used this to spur his players on to get the victory that would keep them in the box seat in the title race and it worked. He added: “It was important yes and I told the girls that Norwich were losing at Fleet and it seemed to spur us on and in truth we had a lot of chances in the second half and could of ran out more comfortable winners. “Although having said that Enfield had several chances but we defended magnificently and really dug in to get the three points.“
When the Gills finally did take one of their chances on the hour mark there was a visible sense of relief amongst the players and manager alike, something Ian wasn’t about to hide. He said: “I think there was yes because we’re used to scoring 5 and 6 and today just one has got us the win. “You could see how much it meant to everyone with the celebrations and it was a brilliant finish from Jodie.
It wasn’t an easy chance but she took it superbly and she was the match winner!
“If I’m honest I think a few of us felt the pressure today and the expectation that goes with playing for us now.
“I told the girls how important I thought the game was and to get the three points is a brilliant feeling.
“Also I think playing Enfield for the 4th time played a factor as they know everything about us as do we about them and I feel for parts of the game the teams cancelled each other out.
“To be perfectly honest at this stage of the season it’s all about results and today’s was massive!”
The fact that Tuesday nights opponents Ebbsfleet did their local rivals a favour by beating title rivals Norwich on Sunday afternoon has not gone unnoticed by Ian. He added: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy with that result, of course I am.
“But it’s about us now and winning the League is in our own hands so it’s up to me and the players to make sure we continue winning games starting with Tuesday night.”