Bolden's Blog
Bolden’s Blog: The final furlong
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on April 28, 2010
Gills played Anchorians away for the third to last game of the season. The Gills spirits were high after a confident double header the week before against Gravesham, although the subs bench was looking a little thin with Megan stuck in Spain, the first team needing all the spares possible, and with a few niggling injuries affecting the girls options.
After a cracking performance up front, Terri Reynolds was paired up once again with Kylie Overton, and Amy Russ dropped into midfield with Leanne. The girls started a little slowly with a few pressing attacks from the Ancs, but a determined Gills kept working hard. Their efforts paid off with a goal from new star striker Terri Reynolds with a header from a Leanne Stevens free kick. Just before half time the Gills started to gain their confidence and netted another from Amy Russ.
The half time turn around saw Gills playing downhill on quite a noticeable slope, and with this in hand, the Gills pushed on with plenty of long balls through for the Gills strikers to chase. Leanne Stevens made herself some space with a game of keep-ups around the defenders and slotted one home. Kate Foster then fancied a go at scoring, and after making a splendid run through three defenders was fouled in the box, only to put the resulting penalty over the bar. Lauren Harris was given the chance to have a run out up front replacing Terri, and Gemma Ridge replaced Chloe Jaimeson but not before she bagged herself a cracking goal.
Kirsty Goodall and Amy Russ both scored another as a weary Anchorians continued to be pressured by the Gills strike-force, who had been regularly supported by the following midfield. With the news that Ashford had lost that day, Gills gained top spot in the league, and went into this Sunday’s game against Milton and Fulston with hope, and nerves. Milton too still had a chance to win the league and the girls approached the game with an unusually large number of subs, and the yellow kit which has only been worn once or twice by the girls this season.
Milton started the game the stronger team with the Gills defence being pushed further back into their own half, with several long balls making their way through to keeper Jess Nunn, who calmly cleared every attempt. Gills managed to make a number of forward runs, but were often cleared up by the defence who batted hard to keep us out. The Gills midfield broke the deadlock with a superb individual goal taking the ball calmly and slotting past the keeper. With renewed strength Gills began to push more and more, but the game was very end to end with keeper jess seeing more of the ball than she has all season.
The game stopped at half time with Gills just 1-0 up, but after facing the sun and working up hill, they had a much more pleasant half to attack from. The game started well with a strong corner from Leanne being guided into the net by Charlotte Abbott, who has only played for the reserves a handful of times this year from the first team. Despite growing in confidence and pushing on at 2-0 up, Milton pulled back a goal from a beaten offside trap, leaving the score at 2-1 and all to play for.
The next few minutes are hard to recall in order, but Anelle Massey, Charlotte Abbott all picked up a goal in the last ten minutes, and after replacing Terri upfront, Megan Cavell, returning from being stuck abroad, got two on the score sheet.
Gills were still being pressed all the time by Fulston, but a better offside trap in the second half kept their attack at bay. Three more points’ help to keep the girls unbeaten run looking possible, with just two draws all season. With the news that Ashford won today, the title race is on for the last game of the season against Deal at home. A win will secure the league, a draw or loss will take the results out of our hands. The girls go into next week with excitement and nerves, but let’s hope the pressure doesn’t affect us as it did this week in the opening minutes.
Mini Gills are now all over for the season, and with a convincing 5-2 victory over Brighton on the last game of the season, Matt and I finished off the year very proud of our Munchkins! We wish them all luck next year whether they are moving up to the under twelve’s, or staying at the tens, and look forward to seeing them all at Priestfield for our end of season evening.
Come and support us for our last game of the year at 10:30am at Lordswood on Sunday, and hopefully cheer us bringing home the league title, and follow in the footsteps of our first team who secured the league with their 2-2 draw with Norwich.
Come on you Gills!