Features
The Season that was … The Reserves Part Three
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on June 25, 2011
In the final part of the Season that was the Reserves we look back at the final the seven games that made the Reserves season.
The first game after Christmas saw the Reserves take on local side Meridian Girls in the inaugural Kent Women’s Plate.
Meridian gave the Gills a good game and there were only two goals scored in the first half through Hannah Gardiner and Whitney Judd. In the second half the Reserves showed far more cutting edge and there were goals for Lauren Harris, Kirsty Goodall, Lou Jackson and Kylie Overton as well an own goal from Meridian. All this was before Meridian got on the score sheet through Louise McCandless but her strike was nothing more than a consolation.
It was back to the Women’s Plate the next week as Crockenhill arrived at Martin Grove for their quarter final showdown.
They actually went behind early on when a long ball over the top allowed Vera Hyblova to race through on goal and lob Les Kay. The Reserves were back on level terms when Whitney Judd fed Kirsty Goodall who crossed for Kylie Overton to slot home.
It wasn’t long before they went 2-1 up when a Hannah Gardiner shot looped up over the keeper and into the back of the net. It was just before half time when the Gills went further ahead through Kylie Overton who headed home at Kirsty Goodall cross. Grace Spicer hammered home a second Crockenhill goal in the second half but the Reserves progressed to the semi-finals.
Millwall Reserves were up next as the Reserves hit the road in their quest to secure the Reserves Southern Division Two title.
They took the lead in the 25th minute when Charlotte Abbott smashed home her shot from just inside the Millwall area. They doubled their advantage with about 15 minutes left when Kirsty Goodall headed home a Temi corner. The Gills ensured the three points in the 82nd minute when Temi rounded the keeper before slotting into the empty net.
This result was enough to secure promotion to Division One but not quite enough to secure the title just yet.
Next up it was semi-final time as the Reserves looked to secure their place in the Women’s Plate final and give themselves a chance at another trophy. 
Rusthall were the opponents and tough opponents they proved to be with all the goals coming in the second half of the game.
Leah Jones tapped home the rebound from an Amy Russ shot from distance to give the Reserves the lead before Kylie Overton volleyed home spectacularly to make it 2-0 two minutes later.
Charlotte Abbott made it 3-0 after Whitney Judd teed her up and she rifled home her shot into the top corner. Temi made it 4-0 with nine minutes left on the clock after good work from Leah Jones left the striker with the simple task of firing the ball home. The scoring was rounded off a few minutes later when Kylie Overton fired the ball into the bottom corner after turning and unleashing a shot, to put the Reserves into the inaugural Women’s Plate final.
It was back to the League for the Reserves penultimate game of the season away to Queens Park Rangers Reserves.
Kylie Overton was on the score sheet again twice in the first half as she all but secured the golden boot for a second season. Her first goal came from an Olivia McGregor pass and she rounded the keeper before firing into the bottom corner.
Her second came shortly after as she got onto the end of a Whitney Judd cross to poke the ball home. QPR got on the score sheet in the second half through Sophie Fogarty but it was nothing more than a consolation.
The Reserves final home game of the season came against Barnet and victory meant they finished the season at home with a 100% record.
Anelle Massey scored the first goal of the game from the penalty spot after a Barnet defender handled in the area; the Gills midfielder calmly fired the ball into the roof of the net.
Barnet were on level terms just after half time when a long ball forward found Emma Davies and she fired a low shot past Lauren Harris in the Gills goal. Kylie Overton put the Gills ahead shortly afterwards as she placed her shot straight into the top corner.
Temi was once again proving her worth as a super sub when in the 75th minute she fired an excellent shot across goal and into the bottom corner. Then five minutes later she turned provider to tee up Kylie Overton and she picked out the top corner again for the second time in the game.
As the final whistle blew the celebrations began for the Reserves as they celebrated winning the Southern Division Two title in style.
There was just one game left for the Reserves a Kent Women’s Plate final against Long Lane as they went for a historic double.
It nearly wasn’t to be as Long Lane got out of the traps early and took the lead through an H Thomas header, however this just spurred the Ladies into action and they ran in seven goals.
They were on level terms in the 11th minute when Kirsty Goodall headed in a Whitney Judd cross, and shortly after Kylie Overton bundled the ball home to give the Reserves the lead.
In the second half substitutes Temi and Amy Russ both grabbed braces as the Reserves superior fitness showed. There was also a nice moment as the retiring Les Kay fired home a penalty after Temi was brought down in the area.
The final whistle once again brought wild celebrations and capped off the Reserves best season ever in their two short years it is now three trophies won.
