Gills Ladies exited the league cup on Sunday afternoon in a game of very few chances with their Charlton counterparts victorious.

Charlton converted two of their three shots on target when Kit Graham netted in the first half and Fliss Gibbons slotted home just after the hour mark.

The Gills came out on the attack in the opening five minutes but couldn’t create anything meaningful on goal, and this would be a pattern as the half progressed.

Ten minutes in and Laura East was upended just outside the area, and Danielle Carlton stepped up and fired her free-kick into the wall as the Gills looked to make the most of their early pressure.

In the 17th minute and a cross into the danger area found Gemma Bryan unmarked but her shot was straight at Faye Baker, who was making her debut in the Gills goal.

It was a sign of things to come from the visitors though and after 21 they were ahead when a cross into the Gills box was dropped by Baker and Kit Graham poked home as Sarah Jones tried to clear.

Shortly afterwards and the Gills got in on the Charlton goal but Captain Natalie Crinean fired her shot wide from the edge of the area.

A well worked move from the Gills shortly before half time saw Laura East put through in the area, but she fired wide from an acute angle just inside the 18 yard box.

Half Time 0-1

The second half was to continue in much the same vein as the first with Gills Ladies having the lion share of possession without creating many clear cut chances and Charlton converting theirs.

Just before the hour mark Bryan broke away but fired well wide from the edge of the area when she was well placed.

Just after the hour mark substitute Emma Beckett went close when she fired into the side netting from distance.

Against the run of play Charlton went 2-0 up when Gibbons guided home a Bryan cross on 66 minutes.

A minute later and the Gills almost got in when Sherelle Walters a through ball almost found the Gills debutant.

With 77 minutes on the clock a Carlton free-kick for the Gills was cleared for a succession of corners that the Gills just couldn’t get a head on and force goal wards.

Baker was called into action in the final minute of the game, as she pulled off a smart save low down to her right hand side to deny Gibbons a second goal in the game.

Full time 0-2

Gills: Baker, Taylor, Carlton, Jones, East (Massey, 86), Tune, Walters, Crinean (Phillips, 86), Ashton-Jones, Blackie (Williams, 75), Smith

Charlton:  Lynch, Alden, Dixson, Butler, Bailes, Gibbons, Bryan, Bennett, Graham, Clifford, Gibson

Subs: Flack, Beckett, Keogh.

Picture by Julian Hart Photorgraphy