Features, Ian Varley

Varley: We deserved it

Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on January 10, 2012

Ian Varley saw his side beat Colchester United Ladies for the first time in five attempts in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

The goals from Natalie Crinean and Danielle Carlton ensured the Gills place in the third round for the third straight season.

Speaking after the game, Ian said: “We have had the highest place team we could have drawn in this round and they are top of our league. To beat them three-nil is great, I think we deserved it though and no one can argue with that.

“I don’t think we want a National Premiership team in the next round we would like to try and make the fourth round for the first time ever.”

Natalie Crinean scored a well taken brace and there was also a well taken goal from Danielle Carlton and Ian was pleased with all three goals.

He added: “There were two great goals, they have flown in the net the first one was a good finish and the second one was a great finish.

“She has led the line really well and she has taken to the role of skipper with Farms not playing she is leading the team forward.

“It turned out to be a great ball from Nat to DC and it was a great finish from her for the third goal, and Matt was saying she was doing that in the warm up before the game. That goal killed the game off but I don’t think at any stage we were under any real pressure.

“Even at 1-0 I thought we would either see out the game or go on and score a few more which is what we did.”

Toni-Ann Wayne made her debut for the Ladies in the FA Cup and she produced two good saves in the second half to impress the manager.

He said: “She hasn’t had a lot to do, but have her there as a presence was good, her communication and kicking was good and she kept a clean sheet so hopefully she will play in the next round.

“Jonesy hasn’t played for seven weeks and she has got through the 90 minutes and she can play out well with the ball and she did well today. I can’t really single anyone out for praise as I thought it was an impressive team performance today. In fact I would say that it was our most complete performance this season so far, so all credit must go to the girls for this.”

The win over Colchester will give the Ladies a boost going into the cup ties and league games that will be coming thick and fast in the next few weeks.

Ian added: “Next week we will look to get to our first final of the year, hopefully we can get past Ebbsfleet and get into the final and keep things ticking over.

“I said to the girls that the league is pretty much done now and we can concentrate on the cups and get as far as we can in each competition and have a good end to the season.”