Ian Varley takes his side to Keynsham on Sunday afternoon in the FA Cup.

With both sides bidding to be in the fourth round it promises to be an entertaining game.

Speaking ahead of the game, Ian said: “It’s the first real break we’ve had during the season so will be interesting to see how we are come Sunday.

“It’s a big competition and one we want to get as far as we can in. We’ve had a good draw as it’s a game we should be winning but we’ve still got to go there and get the result.

“I think any game at this level is a one off and previous encounters don’t really come into it! There a good team with good players and I think there position in the league is a false on so we’ll have to play well on Sunday.

“Although we are missing a few key players on Sunday like Deanna Cooper and Natalie Crinean, it gives our younger members of the squad a chance to impress and show what they can do.”

The ladies played a behind closed doors game in the build up to the game on 3g, something Ian sees as essential.

He added: “It’s certainly good preparation for us as the 3G surfaces play a lot differently to grass pitches. We’ve prepared thoroughly and it’s now up to the players to get the job done on Sunday.”

Team spirit will be high amongst the girls especially with them travelling on the coach to the game together.

Ian said:”It’s always nice to have a good get together but will only be worth it if were in Mondays draw!”

The Reserves signed off their league campaign in style on Sunday by beating Brighton Reserves 2-1.

Midfielder Whitney Judd was on target in the game scoring the winner, and she was delighted with the way the team played.

Speaking after the game, she said: “It was a really good way to sign off the league season. The girls worked extremely hard and stuck at their jobs! We got the result that we came for and we did it brilliantly.

“There was loads of pressure on us to win the game to keep our hopes of staying in that league alive.

“The girls turned up to the game as they usually do, full of banter and ready to try and get another three points. As soon as we stepped on to the pitch we had to forget about everything and just concentrate on the game.”

Heading into the Reserve cup competition Whit is joint top scorer in the reserve team.

She added: “It was good to just get a goal to be honest, but scoring the winning goal just made it even better!

“Amy Taylor’s goal was also great today, she had literally just come on and her first touch was to volley the ball into the back of the net.

“I am proud of being top joint goal scorer. Going from never scoring in the past few seasons to being joint top goal scorers for the ressies is quality.

The Reserve cup kicks in during the next few weeks and the reserves will be going all out to make the knock-out stages.

The 22-year-old said: “Yeah I am very confident. We can beat anyone on our day and I’m sure we will beat Charlton and Millwall. We want to get some silver wear this season, so this is a great opportunity to get some and show everyone that we have had quite a successful season!

Looking back at the season Whit believes it has been the hardest yet, but hailed manager Becky Lyon for having such a positive impact at a time when they were struggling.

She added: “This season has been very tough. For our first season in this league we have done quite well I think. We were finding it really hard until Bex took over and then we started picking up results and getting points.

“Bex has been amazing for us, she has got every bodies confidence back up, got the team spirit going really strong again.

“If we had her from day one, we would have definitely not been in the situation that we are in now. I am just hoping that Arsenal smash Watford so the players and Bex get another crack at this league. We deserve to without a doubt.

“The way the girls played today was fantastic and all of them have had a brilliant season. Bex has had a quality first season in her managerial role and Daisy has been a little diamond as well. I am so proud to be a part of the ressies this season. They are a quality bunch of girls and I love them all… Gilllllssssssss!”

Gills Ladies are back in league action on Sunday afternoon for the first time since the annual Christmas break.

Portsmouth Ladies are the visitors to Chatham Town, in what will be a tough match.

Giving his views ahead of the game, Ian said: “It does seem a long time ago since we were in league action, I think it was our eventful draw at West Ham which was our last game so will be good to get back into league action.

“I backed Portsmouth from the start of the season and with the games in hand they have I would expect them to win promotion.

“I think if you look at the overall season I would say only Portsmouth and Colchester deserve to go up so hopefully one of them will do it. It will certainly be a tough game for us but one we are capable of winning.

“If we can repeat the Colchester performance then we would win the game, I have no doubt about that. It’s just getting that consistency so we can compete with the top three.”

There are now only two league games left for the Gills which Ian admits is somewhat unusual for the end of January.

He added: “We’ve been really fortunate with the weather and I think having a good run of league games as helped us as we’ve been able to get some momentum which has seen us produce some excellent results. We would like to finish the season with 2 wins and that’s what we’ll be trying to do!

“We’ve really adapted well to playing at home after a shaky start so hopefully we can sign off the league season with three points.”

After the Gills returned to action with two cup games, we catch up with Vice Captain Natalie Crinean for her thoughts on the two games.

I will be the first to admit our performance on Sunday was poor in comparison to the recent standard we have set for ourselves.

However we are highly focused on taking positives from each and every game and the positives being, we secured a place in the Final of the Kent cup. We ground out a result that we would have more than likely lost last season. All credit where it’s due that was the best Fleet side we have come up against.

Beastie has been getting closer to scoring each week. There was a bit of Twitter banter before the game on Sunday about her challenges. For her to go on a score was unexpected, she took the goal like she scores as often as me . She is a great player and her work rate is second to none.

I think I mentioned in a previous interview how important we consider the Kent Cup to be. It is a great Trophy an also a great event. It is important to us as a club to give the final a good go.

As I said that’s the best Fleet side I’ve come up against. They have got some great youngsters in the squad; we know how capable they are as a number of them come from our Centre of Excellence. Fleet were together and organised I have no doubt they will push on in the Combination league.

The game against Colchester was brilliant everyone was buzzing everybody put in a great performance from the starting 11 to the girls that came on towards the end. Hats off to Anelle Massey she fought hard when she came on.

I love the fact I am scoring and I think it’s shown in my behaviour on the pitch. I feel less frustrated and I feel like there is less pressure on me personally which allows me to make wrong decisions without beating myself up too much.

It was one of those games where everything just clicked. I have always said that with the squad we have we have the potential to beat any side we come up against. That was proven on this occasion.

I think when things work for us we annihilate teams and at some points we are unplayable. Against Colchester we were clinical we were solid. We were a unit, and everyone worked together.

I think Keynsham was a good draw in terms of going further in the competition. However at this stage in the competition it would be nice to draw a team you won’t get to play against in the season, But never the less it’s a great opportunity to progress in the competition.

It will be nice to finish of the league with 6 points. It will also be nice to be done with the league finish in a decent spot and be able to look forward to the cup games, so we can channel our focus to something this year. We want more silver wear. I am looking forward to Pompey coming to us; I think we deserve to get a comfortable three points off them looking back on other performances.

I think we have been unlucky not to take more from the previous games. We are on a good run of form and have a lot more to offer than we did earlier on in the season. I think more than enough to get a positive result out of the game.

I think our steady position has given us the freedom to go and express ourselves this half of the season. We want to finish as high as possible to set ourselves up for big things next season. The step up from Combination to Premiership level is not necessarily about ability.

We have always had the ability to do well in this league, even with the fear of relegation last season. We just did not understand the tactical side, for example knowing how to see games out, grinding out results. It’s all know how. I am confident we have become familiar with all the things that seem insignificant and can now push on and utilise our ability throughout our squad.

I love it. Sometimes I have found myself having to remind myself of the role I have taken up. Some might have noticed I become frustrated during a match when things aren’t working. Sunday being a perfect example. I noticed myself snapping etc, and maybe not being as encouraging as you’d like your captain to be. I made sure I got a grip, and remembered how things would have gone last season, and remembered why team spirit is so important. As a captain there is a whole bunch of responsibility you take on without even knowing at the time. Being a captain is easy when everything is going smooth, its games like Sunday when there is a cup final on the line you are really put to the test. I think along with the other girls in the squad we made things happen Sunday. It was not pretty but the job was done.

To be honest I think I would be just as Proud If I wasn’t leading the team. The Team spirit togetherness and work rate has got us through all the games leading up to the big stages. If you look at our results in the earlier stages of the Competition against the lower league teams we have performed well and worked hard. We are a very proud club, and I am currently a very proud Vice captain. As I’m sure Farms is a very proud Captain…Gillllsssss

Gills Ladies TV returns today with highlights from the Kent cup semi-final on Sunday.

The Gills progressed to the final with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ebbsfleet United Ladies, Laura East was the goal scorer in the second half.

GLTV will be back after Sunday’s home game with Portsmouth next week.

Watch the highlights below:

Ian Varley was less than impressed with his side’s performance in the semi-final of the Kent Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Despite making the final of the competition for the second time in three years, Ian admitted they were lucky to make the final.

Speaking after the match, he said: “We did play poorly but we got into the final and that is the main thing really.

“The whole overall performance was lacklustre from the start, but we never got going and I don’t think we deserved to get to the final really but we have done and we will go on from here.”

In comparison to the FA Cup win over Colchester United Ladies the previous weekend the performance was below par leaving Ian confused.

He added: “The only thing that can affect us is the mentality of the game that we are playing; perhaps we went out there with the mindset that we were going to walk all over them.

“We stressed to them before the game that they couldn’t do that and we just didn’t work hard enough out there. We didn’t match their work rate, and there were too many misplaced passes and we have to match their work rate because they were always going to come down here and make it difficult for us.

“If they had more quality going forward they would have comfortably won the game as they missed a few one on ones.”

It is the second final in three years and the Ladies will be looking to have their name engraved on the trophy for the second time in recent times.

Ian said: “Fleet did well and they set up to catch us on the break and they did, on any other day it would be them going to the final and not us.

“We have got lucky today, and we will go into the final and good spirits and look to play better than today and win the trophy again.”

Ian Varley is looking forward to this Sunday’s Kent Cup semi-final at home against local rivals Ebbsfleet United Ladies.

It gives the Gills the chance to make it a second final in three seasons in the competition and they will be going all out to win the competition again.

Speaking ahead of the game, Ian said: “With it being a Kent based competition it would make an ideal final us versus Ebbsfleet. However, Charlton and Millwall have entered it for numerous years now so it’s something we have got used too. To be honest if it didn’t have those two teams in it, it would be far too easy to win.

“To be honest I wouldn’t say that result last week shocked me as Millwall Reserves through no fault of their own are not that strong anymore. As for being up for it, it’s without doubt Fleets biggest game of the season so I’m sure they will be.”

The Gills have been preparing as normal for the game training twice a week, which includes the Tuesday night running club.

Ian added: “There is not a chance we’ll be taking it lightly and that’s something I’ve stressed to the girls this week at training. It’s a semi-final of a competition we want to win so that in itself makes it a harder game. Yes we are huge favourites for the game but we’ll approach it as professionally as we always do.

“I’ve said many times before we should be winning this competition year in year out and if we can make it two wins in three years I’ll be reasonably happy.

“Last week was a big win for us and proved we can beat and beat comfortably the better teams in our league. If we can become more consistent we should have a strong finish to the season.”

Reserve team manager Becky Lyon was impressed with the attitude of her side as they came from behind to secure a draw against Charlton on Sunday afternoon.

Alex Witham had given her side an early lead before Stef Simmons and Elizabeta Ejupi gave Charlton a second half lead, only for Temi to poke home a deserved equaliser late on in the game.

Talking about the game, Bex said: “From the start we knew that we needed at least a point but ideally a win. To come back against a team like that and take a point was well deserved, the girls battled so hard from the start of the game.

“We scored in the first five minutes, and they didn’t score until the second half, so we saw the first half out with a goal under our belts. We were unlucky to concede and pull one back, and for them to go ahead was obviously a big shock to us.

“In all fairness to them they did start to boss the game but hats off to my girls for bringing it back to 2-2, it was all down to just sheer determination. Alex and Temi up front chased everything down and created the chance by forcing a mistake and we managed to get back in the game.

“I said to the girls before the start of the game, that it was a massive game that could define our season, and the girls went out there with a great attitude. They knew what we needed to get done and they got a point, it is just frustrating that we didn’t win.

“Against a very strong Charlton side though, we did really well, we always go out there with our Reserve side and try and get the results we need. To get a point from the game it makes that point even more worthwhile.

The Reserves went with a little bit of a formation change and a personnel change to mix things up against Charlton.

Bex added: “We did decide to change things up today; we started with a different formation and a few different players.

“I must say that Amy Merricks who played at right back today was absolutely outstanding, and Jess again was unbelievable she pulled off some incredible saves. Whitney Judd hit the bar and Amy Merricks cleared off the line, so it was a really exciting game although I nearly had a heart attack on the touchline.

“We have got one game left away at Brighton, it is a massive game and we have to look to get all three points. I have fingers crossed that we can see this season out and start again afresh from next season.”

Bryony Smith is one of the players to make the step-up from the Gillingham FC Centre of Excellence last summer to the Ladies squad.

The midfielder has taken to the women’s game like a duck to water putting in some impressive performance for someone who has only recently turned 17.

Speaking about the differences between the C of E and the Ladies team, she said: “It is extremely different playing for Gillingham ladies compared to the C of E.

“The competitive nature of the games has changed dramatically as there is something to play for, points. So I had to up my game to hold my own as the women who play for the ladies have a lot more strength.

“Obviously being only young I have a lot to learn, and fortunately some of the more experienced ladies have been giving advice and encouraging me, making me feel like part of the team.

“The step for me has not been that bad, obviously it is a lot different from the C of E and I have had to adapt, and I think that I have done it ok. Learning and gaining experience with every game, I learn more each week.

“I played for the C of E for six years and enjoyed all of it. It was a definite success and I would look back on the time I spent there with pride. My highlight at the C of E was getting player of the season for the whole of the south east at under 14s.”

Since linking up with the Ladies Bryony has played entirely with the first team and it is something she didn’t foresee when she signed up.

She added: “I did not expect that I would make the first team at Gills ladies in the first season being only 16. When I joined I thought it might be a working progress being a keen believer of hard work and determination, and it looks like that all my hard work has paid off so far.”

The 17-year-old has played in a variety of positions and so far sees it as a very successful season for the Ladies.

She said: “I definitely prefer playing in midfield and feel that it is a natural position for me, but I have played in every position at least once, even in goal! What a disaster.

“I think that the season has been very successful, I have thoroughly enjoyed the season and hope that we end the season on a high. Against Anchorians it was a comfortable and easy win yet a little challenging as I had never played a whole game in defence before.

“For the rest of the season I hope that the team maintains the position in the table and if we can progress higher by winning the rest of our games.

“Ian, Crouchy, Matt and the girls have really made me feel part of the team, and I have learned a lot from them over the last six months as the season has progressed. The girls are really supportive and I have really enjoyed being part of the team.”

Gills Ladies TV is back and for the first time since the winter break.

Today we can bring you the highlights from the weekend victory over Colchester United Ladies in the FA Cup.

Natalie Crinean scored an impressive brace and their was also a goal for Danielle Carlton.

Following the victory, the Gills have been drawn away to Keynsham Ladies in the FA Cup third round.

You can see the highlights below: