Gillingham Ladies’ fell to defeat by Plymouth Argyle Ladies on their return to Medway Priestfield Stadium.
After FA Women’s National League Cup action last week, Gills Ladies manager Jack Wheeler named 16 year old Gillingham Centre of Excellence graduate Alice Bussey for her first FA Women’s National League start, after making her first team debut and scoring in the cup a week previous.
Gills were forced into a reshuffle after barely a minute into the game. A high tackle from a Plymouth player on Grace Seely, saw the midfielder taken off with a knee injury.
Following the restart, Plymouth carved out the games first chance of the game. From a corner kick, a scramble inside the six yard box saw Yasmin Poole forced to clear from a few yards out.
The visitors broke the deadlock with just twelve minutes on the clock. Zoe Cunningham’s strike beat Courtney Shanly to give Plymouth the lead. 0-1
Four minutes later, Argyle doubled their advantage. Helen Bleazard’s curling shot found the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area. 0-2
Argyle continued the pressure and if not for Courtney Shanly tipping an effort onto the crossbar, the visitors could have had a third goal within the first half hour.
Gills looked for a way back into the game, Maddison Farrand tried an effort from outside the penalty area but the shot was wide of the goal.
Plymouth added another goal to their first half tally before the break, Mollie Taylor scored with a long range shot. 0-3
HALF TIME: GILINGHAM LADIES 0 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE LADIES 3 (CUNNINGHAM 12′, BLEAZARD 16′, TAYLOR 38′)
Gillingham Ladies came out from the interval looking to get back into the game, five minutes after the restart, Breon Grant saw an effort go wide of the far post.
For all of the Gills early pressure, Plymouth scored a fourth goal nine minutes into the second half. Katie Middleton sent a header goalwards, the effort looped over Shanly and nestled into the net. 0-4
With twenty minutes to go, Kylie Manktelow tried a shot from outside of the box but the shot was over the crossbar.
As the game headed into the closing minutes, Alice Bussey burst into the penalty area and was bought down. The referee pointed to the spot after consultation with his assistant. Maddison Farrand stepped up and converted the kick to hand Gills a consolation goal. 1-4
FULL TIME: GILINGHAM LADIES 1 (FARRAND 85′) PLYMOUTH ARGYLE LADIES 4 (CUNNINGHAM 12′, BLEAZARD 16′, TAYLOR 38′, MIDDLETON 54′)
Gillingham Ladies: Courtney Shanly, Vanisha Patel (c) (Lydia Huntley 60′), Vicky Ashton-Jones, Ellie Manning, Yasmin Poole, Sammy Booker (Niamh Jestin 70′), Daisy Monaghan, Grace Seely (Breon Grant 2′), Alice Bussey, Kylie Manktelow, Maddison Farrand
Plymouth Argyle Ladies: Lyndsey Rogers, Ebony Dover, Katie Middleton (c), Rebecca Wakley, Helen Bleazard, Kayley Lane, Zoe Cunningham, Rebecca Dandridge, Amber Pollock, Stephanie Beck, Mollie Taylor
Plymouth Substitutes: Darcey Hepworth, Faye Ivall, Tamsin Medd-Gill
Attendance: 65
Photo credit to http://www.kentproimages.co.uk