Features
Crinean: I was really glad to have scored
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on September 7, 2010
Natalie Crinean has returned to form with a bang in the last two weeks scoring two well taken goals in the process.
Her goal against Millwall Lionesses capped off a wonderful come back for the Gills and the goal against Portsmoth last weekend set the Gills on their way to another point.
Talking after the game, Nat said: “I was really glad to have scored today; I have not been on great form following on from the end of last season. Now with the two goals in two games I am feeling pretty confident.”
Nat had one of her best games in a Gills shirt against Pompey but she was quick to praise the role her team mates played in the game.
She added: “The benefits of playing with such talented attacking players such as Danni Farmer, Ashlee Hincks and Lauren Phillips are the key as they keep defenders occupied.
“So long as they are doing that it gives me the opportunity to add to the equation and as a four we create numerous problems.
“The freedom is only created by the constant had work from the other forward players, they do a great job in dragging the defence across which leaves spaces for me to attack. I think it proves how well we work as a unit, Ash played out there last season and had constant success, I couldn’t have performed the way I did Sunday without the superb off the ball runs by the other girls.”
Against Portsmouth the Ladies came away with a point in a game that they could and should have won and Nat admits it was frustrating.
She said: “Coming away from the game even with the point against one of the favourites was devastating.
“I think all who saw the game would agree that we should have got the three points, but at the same time when you look at the Charlton game many could have said the game. That Charlton deserved more out of it, but we have to be positive and look to push on because the bottom line is we are still undefeated.
“We all have great confidence in each and every player throughout the squad, all the coaching staff and even more so the fans all believe that we can do well in this League. We have started on a high through shear belief in each other. We hope to continue to perform at this standard.”
The Gills have yet to lose a game and Nat thinks this is a massive achievement considering the opposition they have played already this season.
She added: “It is absolutely huge, everyone knows what a great set up Charlton and Millwall have, it is always a buzz getting a result against top teams like that. Having played against Millwall a number of times in pre-season and a few teams last season we knew a bit about them which has worked in our favour.
“However with Pompey it was different we didn’t really know too much about them which also did us some good. We went out with the attitude, we are going to control the game and it was a great feeling to have gone out and performed the way we did, having taken none of their strengths or weaknesses into consideration the performance feels more victorious.”
The Gills take on Brighton on Sunday in the League cup and the striker believes it represents a welcome break for the squad.
She said: “I don’t know what Ian plans to do selection wise, but we are giving the League Cup a good shot we feel it is a competition we can definitely compete in, especially having taken a point off Millwall in the first game.
“The League is always more intense than the Cup, personally I enjoy Cup games because it enables players to go out and express themselves in a more relaxed game with less pressure.”