Gills Ladies kicked off their league cup campaign with a defeat against Charlton Ladies on Thursday evening.

Two second half goals were enough for the team from the National Division to take the three points in this encounter. Cori Daniels opened the scoring at the start of the second period before Emma Beckett slotted home the second just after the hour mark.

Gills Ladies got the game underway attacking the park end as it has affectionately become know, Charlton’s first minutes cross was cleared by Deanna Cooper.

A good Gills break from Bryony Smith down the left wing in the 4th minute and Emma Tune couldn’t get a shot on the Charlton goal.

After seven minutes the Gills gave away a free-kick and Stef Simmons swung the free-kick into the box but it was met by a Gills head with a thundering clearance.

In the same moment the Gills turned defence from attack when Amy Taylor played in Bryony Smith and the Gills winger showed the defence a clean pair of heels, raced down the right wing but could only pick out a Charlton head in the area.

With eleven on the clock a foul by Jay Blackie saw Simmons swing a dangerous looking ball into the Gills box but Ellie Bailes couldn’t reach the ball at the back post.

With 21 minutes Emma Tune head butted Fliss Gibbons, Toni Alden stepped up and sent the ball into the area but Toni-Ann Wayne came out and claimed the ball with confidence.

A misdirected Emma Tune header fell to Gibbons but she dragged her shot wide from 12 yards out on the half hour mark.

A minute later a well worked move from the Addicks saw Alden fire straight at Wayne from distance.

On 37 minutes Simmons played in Gibbons down the left wing and she broke into the area and got her shot in goal but she found Toni-Ann Wayne in good form once more.

A succession of corners shortly before half time saw Charlton pile the pressure on the Gills goal, which resulted in Tune and Smith combining to clear the lines.

Half Time 0-0

The first attack of the second half saw Charlton go ahead when Amy Taylor gave away a foul, a ball was swung into the box and Cori Daniels headed home unchallenged to make it 1-0.

With 52 minutes on the clock a long ball out the back found Lauren Phillips, she took a touch and teed up the shot, but fired high and wide.

Shortly after Carlton and Phillips combined well down the left wing and the Carlton cross evaded both Tune and Smith at the far post.

The Gills best chance of the second half fell to Natalie Crinean on 66 when a free-kick fell to her and Lynch came out to smother her shot. They then went straight up the other end and made it 2-0 when Jones got turned inside out for substitute Emma Beckett to slot home comfortably.

Two minutes later a great Jay Blackie through ball who finds Crinean; she advances into the area but fires straight at Lynch in the Charlton goal.

As the game ticked towards the end Sinead Boyer hit the post from a Charlton corner as they looked to increase their advantage.

On 90 minutes Charlton worked the ball out to Charley Clifford, she took a touch and fired a shot on goal, which was tipped over the bar by Wayne.

That was how it finished as the Gills fell to defeat in their opening group game of the league cup competition.

Full Time 2-0

Gills: Wayne, Taylor, Carlton, Cooper, Jones, Hardaker (East, 56), Blackie (Massey, 88), Tune, Smith, Crinean (c), Phillips (Williams, 80)

Charlton: Lynch, Alden, Dixson, Butler, Bailes, Gibbons, Graham, Simmons, Boyer, Chandler, Daniels

Subs: Beckett, Clifford, Newman

Picture by Julian Hart Photography