Features

The Season so far…The Reserves

Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on January 4, 2012

The Reserves have almost completed their debut season in the Reserves Southern Division One.

In the season so far we take a look back month by month on how their season has gone to date.

After the success of winning the League last season it has been something of an up and down campaign so far.

September

The season didn’t get off to the best of starts but then when your first game is Arsenal Ladies Reserves, it is a tough ask. The score line finished 9-1 to the home side, although Anelle Massey did miss a penalty not long after Whitney Judd equalised for the Reserves.

They got their first points of the season on the board against Bristol Academy, Temi and Jess Chater had given the Gills a two goal lead before two late goals gave Bristol a share of the points.

It was exactly the same score line when they travelled to Charlton Reserves, once again Temi found the back of the net along with last season’s top scorer Kylie Overton, but they would have to settle for a share of the spoils once more.

September was rounded off with a trip to Arsenal Reserves in the League Cup first round, the hardest first round the Reserves could have had. They bowed out gracefully in a seven-nil defeat leaving them with just the League to concentrate on.

October

With manager Sean Higgins departed, the Club made perhaps its best on the pitch decision. Club legend Becky Lyon was appointed as the team’s manager, and from then on she has worked wonders.

Her first game was a 2-1 defeat to West Ham; Emma Harrison gave the hammers the lead midway through the first half before extending it shortly before half time. Whitney Judd scored the Gills goal to get them back into the game just after half time.

Her first points as manager game in a remarkable 3-3 draw away at Watford Reserves, they went one-nil up through Kylie Overton in the 29th minute, it only lasted three minutes though as Watford got back on level terms. The home side then went ahead shortly before half time for the first time in the match, with a shot from the edge of the area.

It was 2-2 in the second half when Kylie Overton got the Reserves back on level terms, rounding the keeper and slotting home. With four minutes left to go Watford took the lead again before Whitney Judd levelled the scores in injury time.

Their first win of the season came in an impressive 4-1 victory over Brighton Reserves at home, with Amy Taylor bagging two goals early on. Her second goal was a diving header at the far post; Temi made it three-nil curling her shot into the top corner. Naomi Robinson netted for Brighton just before half time.
The scoring was completed by Kimi Bolden in the second half when she netted a goal of the season contender on her left foot from 30 yards out.

October finished with a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea who were closing in on the top two with some very good footballers; the Gills simply had no answer for the pace of their visitors.

November
November kicked off with a very impressive home draw against Arsenal Reserves, and it was Olivia McGregor with the Reserves goal. She put them ahead with a well taken strike from distance just before the half hour mark. Arsenal equalised through Tricia Gould right on the stroke of half time and that is how the score stayed.

After a team bonding session in Bristol the Reserves then fell to their heaviest defeat of the season just a week after the draw at home to Arsenal. Bristol finished the game with a 5-0 win, having scored four goals in the second half.

The month finished on a high for the Reserves, with an excellent 1-0 away win at West Ham Reserves. The only goal of the game came through Amy Taylor in the second half to secure three valuable points in their Reserves quest to stay in Division One.

December

They kicked off December with a creditable and hard fought draw against Watford Reserves at the Village. Chances were few and far between as defences prevailed.

The last game before Christmas didn’t quite go according to plan as they lost to Chelsea 2-0, with a goal in either half for the hosts.

The Reserves have just two games of their League season left with games against Brighton away and Charlton at home.