First Team, Match Reports
Portsmouth Ladies 3-1 Gillingham Ladies
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on March 27, 2011
Gillingham Ladies left the South Coast empty handed on Sunday afternoon despite putting in one of their best performances of the season.
The Gills started brightly and attacked playing some free flowing football and they had a great chance to take the lead in the 11th minute.
Lauren Phillips was brought down in the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Danni Farmer stepped up and saw her penalty hit the cross bar.
Three minutes later and Danni Farmer was well placed to try and give the Gills the lead but her shot was straight at the keeper. On 18 minutes the Gills had another chance to take the lead this time Natalie Crinean headed straight at the keeper.
Portsmouth were also creating chances of their own and Katie Duffy saw one effort fly over the bar from thirty yards out before she held onto a free-kick with ease.
They then took the lead through a bit of quality, Justine Lorton picked the ball up 20 yards out and lifted the ball over Katie Duffy into the top corner, to create a goal from a moment of shear brilliance.
The Gills were almost level from the kick-off a great ball by Danni Farmer caused confusion in the Pompey defence. Vicky Ashton-Jones beat the keeper to the ball but unfortunately it didn’t quite have enough pace on it and it was cleared off the line.
Natalie Crinean had another chance before half time when a great ball from Jodie Mugford set the striker free but as she took the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper she lost her footing.
Just before half time the Gills fell further behind when Leah Jones was unbelievably adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and the penalty was despatched leaving Katie Duffy with no chance.
At the start of the second half the game was as good as over when Pompey went further ahead when a ball into the Gills box wasn’t dealt with and Pompey fired home once more. Shortly before that however Natalie Crinean saw an effort brilliantly saved by the keeper.
However, the Gills then started to take the game to their opponents as they looked to try and get back into the match.
They had enough chances to find the back of the net before Danni Farmer finally did so. Lauren Phillips held the ball up superbly before she released Leah Jones down the right.
Jones beat the full back and crossed to the back post where Deanna Cooper headed the ball back across and Danni Farmer headed home.
The Gills then created further half chances as the game wore on but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing meant that Portsmouth took the points.
Full Time 3-1
Gills: Duffy, Jones L, Jones S, Cheedy, Carlton, Ashton-Jones (Williams, 83), Mugford (Abbott, 70), Cooper, Crinean (Russ, 80), Farmer, Phillips
