Two first half strikes from Georgia Griffin secured Gillingham Women three points against a Plymouth Argyle Women’s team who grew into an intriguing contest.
Griffin will get the plaudits for two lovely first half goals – and indeed probably would have been kicking herself that she missed out on the match ball – but after an increasing backs to the red wall, the Gills were indebted to their back line with keeper Cara Davies and central defensive pairing (Amy Haynes and Grace Coombs) outstanding in repelling Argyle’s second period armada to make sure the points remained firmly at the Bauvill.
The Gills were to dominate in the first period and deservedly led by Griffin’s brace – the first in just the fourth minute as she raced onto a great through ball to poke the ball past the advancing Jasmine Reed in the visitor’s goal.
The second courtesy of a brilliant ball from Keira Flannery and a finish that was simply sublime. Flannery indeed was at the heart of most of the great play from the home side in the opening forty-five minutes.
A goal to the good, Mel Espinosa – from a brilliant Coombs through ball – was denied by Read to make it two. Read than denied Griffin a third with a brilliant full length save before turning provider for Lottie Sharp who in turn was denied by an overworked Read.
Sharp again tested Read with a low drive that was turned round the post before on the stroke of half time, she whistled a ball across the face of goal which a sliding Griffin was inches away from converting at the far post.
Whatever Argyle had said to them in the second half worked a treat as they were a different side after the break and it was their turn to create a series of chances, the best of which fell to Charlotte Whitmore who was inches too high with a drive before being denied by Davies with the save of the match in the closing ten minutes – the Plymouth striker made room for herself on the edge of the box before arrowing a drive that seemed to be heading for the top corner only for the Gills stopper to go full length to tip the ball over the bar.
Wave after Plymouth wave fell on the brilliant defending of Coombs and Haynes and as the visitors pushed more and more in the closing stages, gaps began to appear and the fast counter-attacking home side so nearly took advantage.
Flannery’s great ball into Sharp was fractionally too far in front of the Gills player; Espinosa and Flannery combined brilliantly for Griffin to again be denied by the keeper and Sharp was then denied a third home goal just before the final whistle by another fine save from Read.
One defeat in four now for Dan Logue’s side who end their run of home games next Sunday when Ipswich Town Women come to Medway.
GILLINGHAM WOMEN – Davies, Houssein, Coombs (Ashton-Jones), Griffin, Jeffkins, Jestin, Maslak, Flannery, Espinosa (Cresswell), Haynes, Sharp (Fordjour).
Subs – Copsey, Keegan.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE WOMEN – Read, Train, Papaioannou, Hack, Whitmore, Lane, Cunningham (Campbell), Dickson (Pollock), Wilson (Crawford), Ireland, Greenslade.
Picture supplied by Gillingham Women.