A fine strike from Breon Grant secured Gillingham Women their first victory at their new home as the Crawley Wasps were edged out under the Bauvill floodlights.

For Grant, the goal just before the hour was a great reward for her personal effort up front, but overall it was finally three well deserved points for the Gills after being edged out in each of their first three games in their new home at Chatham’s Bauvill Stadium.

Selin Buyukgiray had the game’s first chance as she fired over Cara Davies’ crossbar and Tish Nicholls couldn’t get enough of a touch to test the Gills keeper as a good ball was played into the box.

The home side slowly got a grip into the game with Mel Espinosa and Lottie Sharp working hard for room in the middle of the park, and it was Sharp who couldn’t keep her angled drive down when well found on the edge of the box.

Visiting keeper Chrissie Wiggins ensured that the scoreline was blank at the break – she superbly tipped a Grant shot round the left post and then showed really good handling as she dealt really well with Amy Haynes’ cross.

The second period was equally as tight until the Gills took the lead on the hour as a great ball came in from the right and Grant was able to fire home into the roof of the net giving the unlucky Wiggins no chance.

Crawley finally began to threaten in the final quarter but with home skipper Vicky Ashton Jones a towering presence at the back, Davies was rarely troubled.

But when the Wasps did breach the red Gills back line, Davies was more than equal to the task with her own assured handling. Sophie Phelps was well denied by Davies, whilst the Gills stopper did really well to hold on to a Buyukgiray free-kick that died right in front of her.

Davies was though relieved in the final minute when Nat Taylor’s low drive skidded past the left post and shortly afterwards the final whistle confirmed the Women’s first win at the Bauvill at their fourth attempt to secure their mid table position.

The majority of the 200 plus crowd went home happy – and a little relieved – and whilst the size of the crowd was a little disappointing remember that the Lionesses were on ITV and the Champions League on satellite.

Hopefully more will be present on Sunday when the Women start a run of five successive Sundays at the Bauvill with a home game with the MK Dons.

GILLINGHAM WOMEN – Davies, Houssein, Coombe (Keegan), Ashton-Jones, Farrand (Jeffkins), Jestin, Bashford (Flannery), Grant (Fordjour), Espinosa (Griffin) Haynes, Sharp.

CRAWLEY WASPS LADIES – Wiggins, Talbutt-Smith, Hynes, Taylor, Morgan Searl, Nicholls (Negera), Franklin (Chong), Phelps, Garcia, Jackson, Buyukgiray.

Subs – Tia Seale, Fogarty.

Picture supplied by Gillingham Women.