Gillingham Ladies recorded a 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers Ladies on Sunday afternoon to move away from the drop zone in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division.
A brace from captain Jade Keogh and a penalty kick from Kallie Balfour sealed the win.
There was just one change to the starting eleven for Gillingham Ladies that had faced Cardiff City Ladies the previous week, Katie Flack had recovered from illness, Lotti Klatt dropping to the bench.
Queens Park Rangers had the games opening chance, a second minute corner fell to Helen Ogle and her header skimmed off the top of the crossbar. Set pieces were QPR’s main threat early on when another cofrner was met by Hollie Hogan and again a header went over the top of the Gills goal.
Gillingham Ladies first chance of the game fell to Kallie Balfour. A smart through ball by Maddison Farrand set Balfour through between the two QPR centre backs. Quick reactions by Lauren Dolbear blocked Balfour as the forward took control of the pass and the goalkeeper denied the chance of a shot on goal.
Both sides looked tense on the ball an took time to relax into the game, both sides pushing forward but no real chances of not fell in the middle of the first half.
The deadlock was broken as the clock ticked into stoppage time of the first half. Kallie Balfour’s cross was adjudged by the referee to have been blocked by the arm of the Queens Park Rangers defener, as it crossed into the QPR box. Balfour stepped up to send the spot kick into the bottom right corner and gift Gills the lead. 1-0
HALF TIME: GILLINGHAM LADIES 1 (Balfour 45’) QUEENS PARK RANGERS LADIES 0
Both teams attacked the opening of the second half, QPR continued to threaten from set pieces and Hollie Hogan sent a header over the Gills goal.
Courtney Gibson made a great run down the right wing past the QPR midfield, beating the full back to deliver a cross into the box. Balfour was a pace off the deliver and couldn’t reach to convert into an effort.
Gibson’s afternoon was shortly over not long afterwards. As QPR made a break into the Gills half, Gibson tangled with the QPR player and the referee awarded the visitors a freekick. Gibson’s dispute with the official ended with Piotr Zachwieja showing the red card for dissent to the Gills forward.
Despite the dismissal and reduction to ten players. Kallie Balfour was played through on goal by a smart pass over the QPR defence. QPR goalkeeper Lauren Dolbear closed down the space and as Balfour took her shot blocked the effort. Both took a knock in the process as they collided.
Gills doubled their advantage with just under twenty minutes left of the game. Captain Jade Keogh was played a through ball which caught out QPR’s offside trap and left the Gills midfielder a third of the pitch to run unchallenged. One on one with the QPR goalkeeper she cooly slotted the shot into the net. 2-0
As Queens Park Rangers looked for a way back into the game, Captain Keogh once again stepped up to the plate and produced a fine lob of the goalkeeper from over thirty yards out. A goal well deserving of sealing the game for the Gills. 3-0
The whistle signalled three well earned points for the Gills and puts a comfortable gap between themselves and the bottom two with the result.
FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM LADIES 3 (Balfour 45, Keogh 78’,90’) QUEENS PARK RANGERS LADIES 0
Gillingham Ladies: Courtney Shanly, Millie Waud, Rachel Ahern, Emily Symonds (Lotti Klatt 88’), Charlie Thurston, Jade Keogh (c), Katie Flack, Sharna Giuordani (Hariet Clark 73’), Courtney Gibson, Kallie Balfour (Naimh Jestin 87’), Maddison Farrand
Unused Subs: Lotti Klatt, Natalie Crinean, Aileen Williams
Queen Park Rangers Ladies: Lauren Dolbear, Amy Glynn, Laura Hennessey, Seun Odeniyi, Mara Deluca, Jeta Bytyqi, Helen Ogle (Stephanie Anes 40’), Amanda Chimbima, Hollie Hogan, Katie Knell, Dominika Netschova
Unused Subs: Rae Roberts, Hayley Peacock, Neethu Haridas
Att: 77
Pictures supplied by Kent Pro Images.