Gillingham Ladies Football Club

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Reports 1 2006/07

Reports 1 2006/07

First Team Match Reports

05 November
Northampton 4 Gillingham 1

Gillingham Ladies returned to League action on Sunday at Northampton Town, and were promptly brought back down to earth after last weeks terrific FA Cup win, as they were easily beaten 4-1 by their hosts.

The opening quarter of an hour was somewhat scrappy, the Gills were trying to settle down and pass the ball, while Northampton seemed content with a route one approach by pumping long balls over the top of the Gillingham defence. It became clear in the early exchanges that Northampton were beginning to boss the midfield and were finding plenty of space for themselves. The home side took the lead in the 15^th minute when a goal kick from Alison Smith was headed back over the top of the Gills defence. Gills centre back Kelly Seath was arguably fouled by Northampton’s number 9 who went on to slot the ball past Smith.

Northampton continued to press forward and most of the play in the opening half was in the Gillingham half. However the back line of Lyon, Fiddyment, Seath and Judd were holding the home side at bay with some spirited defending. Chances were thin for the Gills with Anna Broad going close on two occasions.

Northampton created further chances but some outstanding goal keeping from Smith kept the Gills in the game. The game was effectively won by Northampton in the last 5 minutes of the first half, as they scored twice, although Gills keeper Smith was clearly fouled for the third.

As the second half got underway, manager Hugo Langton made three changes, bringing Leanne Stevens for Les Kay, Nicola McCormack for Terri Reynolds and Gemma Ridge for Kirsty Goodall. Kirsty Woolard slotted in the centre of midfield with Stevens to add a bit of extra grit.

The Gills pulled a goal back in the 60^th minute when a Stevens free kick found leading scorer Gina Payne who made no mistake from 10 yards out. The Gills continued to rally and created further opportunities with both Payne and Broad going close.

Northampton too pressed as the game became a little more open, but again Smith came to the Gills rescue with some excellent goal keeping.

Northampton wrapped up the game in the 82^nd minute. The ball appeared to have gone out for a throw down the left flank, but credit to the Northampton forward who kept going and somehow managed to slip the ball past Smith to wrap up the 3 points for the home side.
Gills manager Hugo Langton was clearly disappointed with his side, and said after the game “There are no excuses. We didn’t compete and we gave the ball away too easily”

Next Sunday, the Gills Ladies travel to league leaders Colchester United for their Womens FA Cup second round tie. The game is at Heybridge Swifts FC at 2pm.

31 October
Gravesend 2 Gillingham 3

A free-kick from Leslie Kay and an Anna Broad brace were enough to send the Gills into the hat and a Second Round match in a fortnight.

The Gills started off brightly and could have opened the scoring in the first minute when Broad's free-kick just over 20 yards out sailed over the upright.

Gravesend broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when their right back sprung the offside trap and sent an angled drive past Alison Smith in the Gillingham goal.

The Gills pushed forward for an equalising from the restart and came close in the 14th minute when Broad's corner fell to captain Becky Lyon, her shot ricocheted to Kirsty Woolard but the young striker sent her shot over the bar.

Lyon was booked in the 31st minute for a late tackle on the Gravesend left-back.

A minute later and the scores were level. A Gravesend centre-half handled just outside the penalty area and Kay scored a spectacular equaliser from 20 yards when she lofted her shot over the wall and past the Gravesend goalkeeper.

The Gills extended their lead in first-half injury time when Lyon's throw to Woolard was squared to Broad, and the left-midfielder drilled the ball home.

Gills Ladies Manager Hugo Langton replaced Whitney Judd with Gina Payne at half-time.

The second-half started brightly but the Gills had to wait until the 63rd minute for their third goal. Payne's ball into the area saw a goalmouth scramble and Broad managed to send the ball through the huddle of players and past the Gravesend keeper.

And here we go....bounce bounce bounce bounce..

Payne almost made it a fourth from the kick-off when she chased down a loose ball and lobbed the ball inches wide of the goalkeeper's far post.

Gravesend pulled a goal back in the 78th minute when their striker fired in at the far post after the Gills defence failed to stop a cross.

Langton used his remaining substitutes in the 87th minute when Vicki Crawford and Leanne Stevens replaced Kirsty Goodall and the injured Nikki Seath respectively.
Gravesend pushed forward for an equaliser but the Gills Ladies managed to see out the remaining minutes and earn a well-deserved place in the Second Round.

Gills Ladies Manager Hugo Langton was delighted with the result but admits his side can play better: "It was quite a battle out there at times and we had to dig in. At times today, we didn't play the football that we can and credit must go to Gravesend as they didn't let us. To score three goals like we did, that was pleasing. We had a good 20 minute spell in the first-half where we played some good football. We had to roll our sleeves up at times and it was pleasing that we did that when we had to.

"It would obviously be a local side that we get in he Second Round and I would like a home-tie as that would be perfect for us.

"Gina Payne had a blatant penalty that got turned down. It is not the first time that has happened this season. I had to bite my lip as last time it happened, I got into a bit of trouble. These things happen but at the end of the day, we got the result.

Last but not least a big thank you for a capacity crowd turn out...

8 October
Bedford 4 Gillingham 2

Gillingham Ladies were just edged out in a very tough game away at Bedford Town. Two late goals saw off the Gills in what was a very physical game that could have gone either way for long periods of time.

The first 7 minutes of the game were frantic as both sides went for one another. Bedford drew first blood after a slip in the Gills defence allowed Bedfords striker to fire a shot past Leslie Kay in the Gillingham goal. However the Gills responded in style. Firstly after 5 minutes, Kirsty Woolard headed home an excellent cross from the right from captain Becky Lyon, before Woolard set up Anna Broad to fire low into the Bedford net just 2 minutes later, her second in two games since returning from injury.

The Gills Ladies then began to settle as the game became more physical. Both Jac Fiddyment and Kelly Seath were putting in excellent performances as Bedfords quick attacks kept them both very busy. When they did get through the fearsome twosome, they found Leslie Kay in great form.

Gillingham kept on going forward with Vic Crawford and Terri Reynolds covering every blade of grass in the centre of midfield, trying to get the ball forward and out wide as much as possible. Both Whitney Judd and Broad were both working the wide areas and were both impressing when the Gills had to defend too.

Bedford kept pushing and found an equaliser late in the first half, to send the teams in level at half time.

The second half was a very tight affair. Both Kelly Seath and Fiddyment were again leading by example as they scrapped and challenged for every ball as Bedford tried to push on. Bedford did nearly take the lead from a corner but Nikki Seath saved the Gills with an excellent goal line clearance. Tackles began to fly in, especially from Becky Lyon as she led by example in not allowing Bedford to pass through the back line.

Gillingham suffered a hammer blow in the 65 minute when the excellent Kelly Seath had to leave the pitch injured after throwing herself at one ball too many. The Gills reshuffled and were digging in deep as Bedford pressed. In the 83^rd minute all the Gills hard work came undone as a massive scramble in the Gills box from a Bedford corner ended up with the ball in the back of the Gillingham net.

Gillingham responded by trying to push for the equaliser, but the game was won 2 minutes from time when Bedford hammered home a superbly taken free kick from the edge of the box.

Manager Hugo Langton said after the game “I thought the effort all my players put in deserved better. Defensively we were excellent at times. Both Kelly Seath and Jac Fiddyment have been awesome in the last three or four games. Four goals suggests we have defensive problems but sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t, and late on today they didn’t. I thought our midfield worked their socks off and were understandably knackered at the end. Throughout the side today we gave everything and as a manager I can’t ask for more from them”.

The Gills Ladies have no game this Sunday, but return to action at home to Rushden and Diamonds a week on Sunday at 2pm.

Team Photo Away to Bedford (October 2006)

1 October
Gillingham 6 Norwich City Canaries 4

Kirsty Woolard gets stuck in

Captain Kelly Seath makes a challenge on Norwich's playmaker

Becky Lyon gets taken out mid air!

Gina Payne slots the ball home to complete her hat trick

Nikki Seath elbows her marker out of the photo...

24 September
Enfield 2 Gillingham 3

Gillingham Ladies bounced back from defeat against Ipswich Town with a well earned first away win of the season at Enfield Town Ladies.

Enfield started brightly and pressed Gillingham back in the opening minutes, but the back four held firm with Enfield having a series of corners. Gillingham settled very quickly soon after and after 6 minutes the impressive Vic Crawford slipped Gina Payne in with just the Enfield keeper to beat, and Payne did with style to notch her seventh goal of the campaign.

Gillingham seemed the more composed of the two sides with Terri Reynolds dominating the midfield, playing in front of the back four, who too were mopping anything up that Enfield could muster. After half an hour, somewhat against the run of play, a mix up in the Gills box left Enfield’s centre forward the simple task of equalising with a tap in into an empty net.

The Gills responded in style and took control of the game in the next 10 minutes, with two goals from the hard working Kirsty Woolard. The first was put away after some great work from Gina Payne and Vic Crawford combining to leave Woolard the opportunity to put the Gills ahead. Woolard then extended the Gills lead with another excellent finish with a powerful effort after an excellent flick on from Reynolds.

The Gills looked in control, although did have one scare as Enfield did hit the bar from a close range header just before half time.

The second half saw Enfield try and step up their game, but the Gills worked hard and remained in control. Enfield did pull themselves back into the game from a corner. A reaction save from Gills keeper Ali Smith, fell kindly to an Enfield player to score from 2 yards out.

Although Enfield again won a series of corners, the Gills held firm in the second half. They had chances to extend their lead but in the end happily settled for 3 goals and 3 points. Leanne Stevens did an excellent job stepping in to run the line, despite plenty of grief from the home bench.

Manager Hugo Langton said “I am chuffed to bits for the girls as we have struggled with our away form this season. Today we looked like a decent side. Our passing and movement at times was first class. The whole work ethic throughout the side was the best I have seen so far this season. It would be unfair of me to single any individuals out as the whole team were excellent.”

This Sunday the Ladies entertain Norwich City Canaries at home, 2pm kick off at Larkfield and New Hythe FC. All support is welcome.

17 September 2006

Gillingham started the brighter and in the first minute Gina Payne broke down the left wing and delivered an excellent cross to the far post that was met my Gemma Ridge, who’s header was well saved by the Town goalkeeper.
Both sides looked strong in defence, with Nikki Seath particularly standing out at left back, as her and Whitney Judd were causing Ipswich all kinds of problems down the left flank. In the first 25 minutes Gillingham were on top, with Payne and Kirsty Woolard unlucky not to see their hard work rewarded.
As the half wore on Ipswich began to settle and should have taken the lead when a shot was blazed over from 6 yards after an initial shot rebounded back off the post to present the Ipswich striker with an open goal.
The second half started with a real battle in midfield, with both Terri Reynolds and Les Kay matching their counterparts from Ipswich. Then after 60 minutes, a sliced clearance from Leanne Stevens fell kindly in to the path of the Ipswich centre forward who was left with the simple task of putting Ipswich ahead as she lobbed the Gills keeper Ali Smith.
Controversy began to set in as the Referee decided to take centre stage. In the space of 60 seconds he waved away a blatant penalty for Gillingham, after Gina Payne was clattered into by the Ipswich keeper, before then booking Kelly Seath for the crime of being shoved off the ball by an Ipswich player.
The Gills equalised with 15 minutes remaining through a superb 20 yard free kick from Les Kay, who curled the ball around the Ipswich wall into the top left hand corner giving the Town keeper no chance.
However Town won the game just two minutes later, when a free kick from the right wing was curled beautifully into the top corner to cruelly take all 3 points back to Suffolk.
Manager Hugo Langton remained upbeat and said “I cannot fault the effort from any of my players today. Every one of them gave 110%. Ipswich are a good side and there was nothing between us and them today. We deserved a draw, and we all feel a bit robbed. We had a cast iron penalty that we were not given, but sometimes these things don’t go your way. The league is very tight and I know if we keep playing like we can then we will put a good run together”.
This Sunday sees Gillingham Ladies travel to Enfield Ladies, 2pm kick off.

Gillingham 1 Ipswich 2An injury hit Gillingham Ladies side were undeservedly beaten by Ipswich Town at home on Sunday by 2 goals to 1. In a very even and hard fought game the Gills will feel very hard done by.

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