Match Reports 2007/08

 

Gillingham 3 Ipswich 4

After last weeks great result Gillingham came within 30 secs from holding Ipswich for a well deserved point.

The match started lively with Donna Harris called in to action in the 2nd min, Gills then got into their stride with Gemma Ridge firing past the upright, on 5mins the home side appealed for an offside flag that never came allowing the forward to run on and slip the ball passed the outstretched hand of Harris, 0-1.On 13 mins Ipswich broke down the wing,the ball was hit hard and low into the box, leaving the forward to tap in for 0-2.

It was not all one way traffic with Gills going close, when on 25 mins good passing lead to the ball being laid back to Lesley Kay who hit an unstoppable shot from 30 yds into the top corner 1-2, a change then brought on Kirsty Woolard to run at the defence. A great wing pass to Kay saw her take it into the box where after a tackle she was still able to chip the keeper unfortunately it bounced off the top of the bar,on 42 mins Jac Fiddyment took the ball through and her shot smacked off the bar and was cleared,Ipswich came back and their attack was stopped by a push in the back just in the penalty area, the penalty was put away with ease owing to an earlier injury to Harris 1-3 at half time

With Harris not appearing for the second half changes were made with Zara Phillips taking the gloves and Kylie Overton coming on, after 51 mins a free kick just outside the area was superbly put away by Kay 2-3, the changes were working well as on 57 mins Leanne Stevens took a great free kick on the right which bounced around the area and was slotted in Fiddyment to bring the home side back into it 3-3, it was now all Gills. On 71 mins Stevens went off after running herself into the ground and was replaced by Katie Flack, as Gills were pressing for a winner gaps appeared at the back but the defence weathered the storm, but with about 30 secs to go an attack broke down and Ipswich broke through and with what looked like a definite nudge in the back of a defender carried on a slotted under the body of Phillips 3-4 Gills just had time to restart when the whistle blew. Football is a cruel game.

Bedford 2 Gillingham 5

Gills season finally got going with a convincing win at Bedford. The home side started brightly enough and had 2 shots in the first 5 mins, the second being blocked by Judd. Gills then got their act together and good work forced a corner on the left,a well placed ball found Jac Fiddyment restored up front after shoring up the defence for the past 3 seasons, a pinpoint header left the keeper grasping air 1-0, further shot from Carla Maistre and Fiddyment again  whistled over the bar.Bedford woke up and only poor finishing and 3 brilliant saves from Gills new keeper Donna Harris kept the lead intacted,in the 43 min good interplay from Fiddyment and Maistre lead to Maistre putting a perfect shot out of reach of the poor keeper  2-0, Gills were guilty of trying to play out time when a smart through ball allowed Bedford to score via the keepers hand and the inside of the post 1-2 game on.

The second half started with Gills still in the changing room as Bedford struck within 40 secs with an unstoppable shot 2-2,for the next 15 mins Gills had trouble getting out of their half but the defence held firm. An injury to Zara Phillips lead to the introduction of Leanne Stevens, the reshuffle worked wonders as gills to control again, Stevens robbed an indecisive defender to slide an inch perfect pass for Fiddyment to bury it for 2-3. Changes by the home side failed to lift them, when on 80 mins Stevens picked up a clearance and from 30 yards out placed teasing lob over the unfortunate keeper for 2-4. Bedford were now well beaten two more subs for gills bringing on Terri Reynolds for Gemma Ridge and Nicky McCormack for Carla Maistre ended all resistance, after trying herself Reynolds put Fiddyment through to round the keeper and slot home for 2-5, from the restart the ref's whistle brought a great display to an end. 

Lewes 5  Gillingham Ladies 0

The scoreline doesn't do justice to a very competitive and exciting game of ladies football. It started well for gills who were fielding 2 new players, early attempts were few, but on 5 mins Anna Broad worked her way into the box and only a last ditched block denied her of a chance at goal.Lewes cleared the corner and set up a counter attack using their fast wingers but the threat was dealt with by the rearranged defence.

Just as gills seemed to be coping, a slide rule pass put through a forward who chipped the keeper but the ball came back off the bar and was cleared. The warning when unheeded and on 15 mins gills appealed for offside only to see the player go on and slip the ball passed the advancing keeper 1-0 to Lewes.

Within 2 mins Lewes were back on the attack, only a great block from Smith and goaline clearance by new girl Natasha Bartlett kept it 1-0. Gills were struggling to find a way through and were forced to play high balls which is not their style at all, this caused confusion which Lewes used to their advantage when they ran through a static defence to lob the keeper 2-0.

This seemed to wake gills up and they had their best spell of the first half creating uncertainty in the home defence with defenders clearing anywhere including thier own crossbar, on 28 mins a free kick on the edge of Lewes area in a central position was sweetly struck by Lesley Kay but whistled just passed the upright.  From the goalkick gills stood and waited for a flag that never came leaving an easy tap in for a grateful forward 3-0 down after 32 mins, within a minute it went from bad to worse when the ball was lost in midfield presenting Lewes the easiest of chances 4-0, gills managed to hold out till half-time without further problems.

Whatever was said at half-time certainly did the trick,within 40 secs of the kick off a through ball to Kirsty Woolard who turn a smacked a great shot onto the post with the keeper static, a wake up call at last.  Leanne Stevens came on for Kylie Overton who sustained a knee injury late in the first half and didn't appear for the second half. Lewes soaked up some heavy pressure and caused some heart stopping moments with counter attacks but some great saves from player of the match Ali Smith kept them out.With gills attacking it left holes at the back, and on 59 mins the ball was lost in midfield the ball went to the wing and the low cross  was missed by all leaving a lone forward to simply tap the ball into an empty net 5-0. Gills through caution to the wind and took off defender TerrI Reyonlds and sent on Nicky Mccormack to go 4-3-3, they spent the remainder of the half  throwing everything at the Lewes goal stinging the hands of the home keeper on more than one occasion,during this period Lewes were unable to clear thier lines and were penned back in thier own half, although they were 5-0 up i'm sure Lewes were glad to hear the final whistle. If gills had played like that in the first half it may have been a different story.

With no game next week  the management team have arranged a home friendly against Ashford where they hope to try some new players. K.O. 2.00 pm at Woodstock Park.

Gillingham Ladies 1  Whitehawk 3

The first match on a new bigger pitch with new players was always going to be difficult, and so it turned out to be.

In the first half gills were on top playing some nice tight football but their finishing was letting them down, the play getting bogged down in midfield, when the gills did get forward they were stopped by first the bar and then the keeper. on 31 minutes a through ball the Kirstie Woolard who tried to take it round the keeper who grabbed her legs for which the ref awarded a penalty, superbly tucked away by Zara Phillips. with no more scoring in the first half it ended 1-0 to gills.

With changes in the second half Nicky McCormack on for Leanne Stevens and Katie Flack on for Carla Maistre. The game began to swing Whitehawks way and it was only a matter of time before they equalised despite heroic work from gills defence, Katie Flack then went down injured and was replaced by Gemma Ridge, as the half wore on the gills began to tire and Whitehawk took the game by the neck and pressed for the winner, this came with a defence splitting pass for the forward to run on and slip passed the advancing keeper. Gills tried to regroup and got back to passing the ball once more only some resourceful defending by Whitehawk kept the score at 2-1 to the visitors.

But as is the case gills were caught on the break and with 3 mins to go a pass to the wing and a speculative cross sailed over the outstretched hands of the keeper to make it 3-1.

No time to weep gills are back in action on wed when they entertain the School of Excellence at Woodstock in a friendly, then next week they travel to promoted Lewes on the south coast hoping to get their season started.