Gillingham Ladies’ were overpowered by former Women’s Super League side Oxford United Women at Chatham Town FC on Sunday afternoon. The visitors scored twice in the first half, adding three more to their tally in the second.

Manager Jack Wheeler named Esme Sword in the starting eleven after a strong performance in the away win against C&K Basildon during the previous week. Grace Seely missed out as she recovers from the knee injury suffered against Plymouth Argyle.

Oxford had the games earliest chances, twice hitting the woodwork in the opening ten minutes. The clock had just four minutes gone when Oxford were first denied by the post, a shot crashed off the upright. Continuing with the pressure, a Lauren Allison header for the visitors beat Courtney Shanly, but the same post kept the ball out on the ten minute mark.

Gills countered and earned themselves a corner, the resulting kick was whipped in by Maddison Farrand direct on goal. The Oxford goalkeeper Lucy Thomas was forced into action and punched the ball clear.

Twenty minutes into the tie, Vanisha Patel was adjudged to have committed a foul on the edge of the penalty area. Ellie Noble’s free kick for Oxford was straight at Shanly.

Minutes later, Noble would break the deadlock. A curling effort from the forward beat Shanly and nestled into the far bottom corner of the goal. 0-1

Despite the games first goal, the two sides were evening each other out, until the last minute of the half. Oxford broke forward and got inside of the Gills penalty area, Shanly blocked the initial shot with a good save but the rebound was tapped in by Sophie Baker to double the visitors lead. 0-2

HALF TIME: GILLINGHAM LADIES 0 OXFORD UNITED WOMEN 2 (Noble 23′, Baker 45′)

After the interval, Gills provided the second half’s first opportunity. Farrand again from a corner kick delivered her kick right into the goal line. Lucy Thomas had to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Oxford proved a clinical in the second half. In the 75th minute, second half substitute Flo Fyfe latched onto a through ball to find herself one on one with Shanly. The Oxford player cooly slotted home. 0-3

Into the last ten minutes, Lauren Haynes scored with a well placed powerful header from a Oxford corner. 0-4

The game was rounded off for the visitors in injury time when Maddie Robertson’s shot from an acute angle beat Shanly. 0-5

FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM LADIES 0 OXFORD UNITED WOMEN 5 (Noble 23′, Baker 45′, Fyfe 75′, Haynes 81′, Robertson 90′)

Gillingham Ladies: Courtney Shanly, Yasmin Poole, Millie Waud, Vanisha Patel (Niamh Jestin 65′), Ellie Manning, Lydia Huntley, Daisy Monaghan, Sammy Booker (Olivia Jestin 65′), Esme Sword (Breon Grant 58′), Alice Bussey, Maddison Farrand

Oxford United Women: Lucy Thomas, Amber Roberts, Bobby Lynch, Lauren Haynes, Stephanie Bent, Emily Allen, Catherine Beaver, Kerry Wallet, Sophie Baker, Ellie Noble, Lauren Allison

Oxford Subs: Laura Hennessy, Flo Fyfe, Maddie Robertson, Lena Stroem

Att: 84

Photo credit to Kent Pro Images