Club News
The season that was – Part Two
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on June 20, 2010
In the second part of the season that was we take a look back at games in November, December, January and February and the bad weather that affected the whole entire fixture calendar.
The Gills saw their first game in November against Enfield postponed which meant that they had an extra week’s preparation ahead of the FA Cup first round tie against Oxford City. Whilst being in the equivalent League in the South West, Oxford were no match for the Gills as they moved into round two with ease. The goals came from the ever impressive Natalie Crinean and Ashlee Hincks who bagged a brace each, and strikes from Danni Farmer and Vicky Ashton-Jones.
It was back to back Cup matches for the Gills as they entertained Maidstone Town in the Kent Cup, in what was a mismatch of teams on the day. The Gills easily moved into round two of a tournament that the Gills wanted to win. Natalie Crinean hit her fifth hat trick of the season in that game, and her strike partner bagged a brace as did the equally impressive winger Vicky Ashton-Jones.
The Gills then saw their away game at Spurs postponed due to the heavy rain that saw many games called off in November.
Despite the heavy rain and puddles on the pitch the Gills took on Enfield in the second round of the FA Cup the following weekend as November came to a victorious end. Once again the Gills potent attacking trio of Hincks, Crinean and Farmer were on the score sheet as the Gills made it into the third round of the FA Cup for the first time ever.
December was a washout for most teams but the Ladies did manage to get one game played in amongst all the postponements. That came in the FA Cup when they took on Southern Premiership leaders Barnet in the third round.
Although they lost the game 4-1, it was a great occasion for the Ladies who more than matched their higher ranked opponents. On another day had an Ashlee Hincks free kick not come back off the post it could have been a different game, the Gills goal came courtesy of an own goal. The Ladies did achieve something they had never done before by playing in the third round for the first time ever, and gave a great account of themselves.
January went much the same way as December in terms of fixtures as the snow and frozen weather meant most games were postponed. This lead to a number of headaches for clubs up and down the Country of just how games were going to be rescheduled.
The Gills produced an imperious display just after New Year when they took on title rivals MK Dons and thumped them 8-1 on their own patch. It was the one game that stood out at the end of the season for the manager. Ashlee Hincks scored no less than five goals that afternoon as she run rings around the Dons defence, there was also a brace for Danni Farmer and a rare goal for Jodie Mugford.
The only other game played in January was the 13-0 hammering of Castle Colts in the second round of the Kent up. This was always going to be a mismatch on paper. It proved to be that way on the pitch once the Gills found the back of the net after missing several chances. There were another seven goals for Ashlee Hincks, yet another hat trick for Natalie Crinean and a brace for Vicky Ashton-Jones and a goal for the impressive Deanna Cooper.
February saw the Gills take on Enfield at home in the first game of the month and once again the unbeaten League run was extended to seven games. In what was a strange game the Gills looked to be cruising the game easily when Enfield got back into the game on three occasions. The Gills goals came from Hincks with another hat trick and a brace from Natalie Crinean, as the two strikers proved to hot to handle for yet another defence.
MK Dons visited Martin Grove hoping to take three points back to Milton Keynes after being handed a football lesson on their own patch. It didn’t happen for them though as they went home empty handed after the Gills won 6-2. There were a few surprise scorers in this game as Deanna Cooper came to the party and scored a well taken brace. The familiar names were on the score sheet with a goal apiece for Ashlee Hincks and Natalie Crinean. Joining them were Laura East and Captain Becky Lyon who scored their first goals of the season.
February ended with more postponements as the Kent Cup quarter final against Ashford was postponed two weeks in a row.
Tune in next week to find out if the Gills managed to get anymore games played in March, April and May and how their season finished.