Club News
The season that was – Part One
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on June 14, 2010
The Ladies started their most successful season ever in August and in the first of a three part series we look back on how it all happened.
Pre-season started way back in July for the Gills where manager Ian Varley arranged eight fixtures to test his new look first team before the season started.
Five wins, one draw and two defeats including victories over Luton Town, Charlton and Brighton gave Ian the strongest indication that his side would be challenging for the Southern Premiership title.
The season finally got under way in August in glorious sunshine as the Ladies kicked off their campaign at home to Cambridge Women. The game saw Ashlee Hincks bag a brace on her debut and this saw the goals flow as Natalie Crinean, Jade Johnson, Vicky Ashton-Jones and Danni Farmer all getting in on the goal scoring action.
Spurs visited Martin Grove for the Gills second home game of the season where once again the sun shone and the Gills played some nice free flowing pass and move football. Natalie Crinean gave the Gills the lead in the first half before another brace from Ashlee Hincks sealed all three points for the Gills again. A consolation goal from Spurs from the spot in injury could not detract from the Gills domination of the Gills.
The Ladies closed out August with a resounding 18-0 victory over Welwyn Garden City away from Martin Grove. The scorers chart resembled more of a cricket score than a football match with Hincks hitting the back of the net seven times. Natalie Crinean found the net five times, Kylie Overton grabbed a hat trick and there were goals for Ashton-Jones, Cooper and Farmer. Unfortunately for the Gills this result would be wiped out the week after their amazing victory as Welwyn folded.
Into September and the Gills continued their impressive goal scoring form as they beat Dagenham and Redbridge away 11-0. Once again Hincks impressed alongside Natalie Crinean up front as they both netted a hat trick, Danni Farmer also found the net three times. Vicky Ashton-Jones and Kylie Overton also got on the score sheet as the Gills announced themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the South East Combination League. This result would later become void but more of that later on.
September also saw the Ladies kick-off their League Cup game against Spurs at Martin Grove. It was a tougher game for the Gills as both sides saw the League Cup as a trophy that they could win at the end of the season. The Gills moved into the next round with a 2-0 victory with goals from Vicky Ashton-Jones and Ashlee Hincks.
Lewes visited Martin Grove next in what was to be the Gills first League defeat of the season and the start of an impressive unbeaten was to follow this. Unfortunately the 13th proved to be unlucky for the Gills as Lewes found the Gills off form and despite a late consolation from Danni Farmer they went home with all three points.
Ipswich Town were on the end of the Gills back lash just a week later as they went down 5-1 to a team looking to put behind them a defeat that hadn’t looked like happening. The unstoppable Hincks and Crinean were again amongst the goals. Natalie Crinean netted a hat trick and Ashlee Hincks grabbing herself a well taken brace.
The Gills took on near neighbours Ebbsfleet in the sunshine at Stonebridge Road at the end of September. When the match kicked off the Fleet were on top for the opening few minutes before the Gills superior quality shone through. They were soon heading down the A2 with another well taken three points thanks to a brace from Danni Farmer and goals from Hincks, Crinean and Vicky Ashton-Jones.
October kicked off with another emphatic victory over Dagenham and Redbridge, as they ran in another 11 goals, winning the game 11-1. Once again Ashlee Hincks netted seven times only to see the goals voided a week later, Danni Farmer netted a hat trick and Deanna Cooper what she thought was her first goal of the season – at the second time of asking. Yet again just one week after the game Dagenham also folded meaning the results and goals were whipped out from both games. The Gills lost six points because of this and it could have cost them as the season went on.
Ash Hincks goes past the Northampton defence
Meridian Tonight came to the home game against Northampton in October to film a feature on women’s football that would be played out on local television in December. The Gills ran riot that afternoon in the heavy rain with an easy 4-0 win; goals came from Natalie Crinean who hit a fantastic hat trick. Ashlee Hincks show cased her talent with a football by smashing in a 40 yard free kick in front of the television cameras.
Cambridge Ladies took on the Gills next as the Gills started to find that goal scoring form from earlier in the season. Once again it was a familiar trio on the score sheet with Danni Farmer and Natalie Crinean both scoring a goal each and Ashlee Hincks with a brace.
October finished with the Gills avenging their earlier defeat to Lewes with a well fought out 4-2 victory, thanks to goals from Ashlee Hicks once again with a brace, Natalie Crinean and Danni Farmer. The game had an extra significance as it was a top of the table clash that the Gills went home with all three points from.
Tune back in this time next week for Part Two of the Season that was.
