Gills Ladies went down 2-1 to Super League side Arsenal Ladies in a hugely entertaining game on Thursday evening.

Deanna Cooper gave the ladies the lead in the 20th minute with a cool lob. Dan Carter equalised before Jennifer Beattie put Arsenal ahead in a manic four minute spell just after the half hour mark.

It was an even start to the game with Gills playing a more attacking game from the off than they did in their previous friendly against Chelsea last weekend.

There was just three minutes on the clock when Dan Carter sent a corner into the Gills box that was headed clear by Deanna Cooper.

The first attempt on goal came from distance from number Bianca Bragg, but it went harmlessly over Toni-Ann Wayne’s cross bar.

Seven minutes in and a Danielle Carlton free-kick was cleared. Two minutes later Emma Tune played in Natalie Crinean who fired her shot over.

Shortly after Katie Chapman had a shot from distance that went well wide for the visitors as they look to stamp their authority on the match.

On 16 minutes Beattie was fouled on the edge of the area, Carter stepped up and fired her free-kick straight at Wayne in the Gills goals.

Twenty minutes in and it was Cooper  who put the ladies ahead when she lobbed Emma Byrne from 18 yards into the top corner with some skill, after a great through ball from Captain Natalie Crinean.

A minute later and Arsenal could have been back on level terms when an unmarked Gilly Flaherty headed a Ciara Grant corner wide at the far post.

Arsenal forced Toni-Ann Wayne into a sharp save down low at her near post when Trisa Gould had a shot from six yards out.

A series of Arsenal corners on 25 minutes put pressure on the Gills defence but the defence stood strong as Arsenal looked to get back into the match.

After 28 minutes Toni-Ann Wayne did well to palm a Jennifer Beattie cross round the post, from the corner Danielle Carlton cleared the ball off the line.

With 31 minutes gone Arsenal were back on level terms Gould played a ball through that split the Gills defence and Carter slotted home unopposed to make it 1-1.

Two minutes later the visitors were ahead Ciara Grant this time played a long ball into the Gills box from the right wing. Lauren Williams cleared as far as Jennifer Beattie who volleyed into the top corner to leave the keeper with no chance making it 2-1.

After 35 minutes Deanna Cooper raced down the left wing before firing a cross that flashed across the Arsenal 18 yard box, just missing the advancing Emma Tune at the far post.

In the second half an hour the game was pretty much all Arsenal as they looked to apply some pressure on the ladies goal.

On 51 minutes Grant tried an audacious chip from 35 yards out from a free-kick, having spotted Wayne off her line, however the Gills keeper was aware of her surroundings catching the ball just under her own cross bar.   With the hour mark approaching substitute Neame Fahy crossed the ball back into the box from the left hand corner picking out Carter, who fired wide from 12 yards

Carter then played in Jayne Ludlow after 63 minutes, but the Captain fired wide unchallenged from the edge of the Gills area. A minute later and Carter again turned provider as she teed up Beattie at the far post but she couldn’t direct her header on goal.

Arsenal had a number of half chances after the hour mark with most mostly falling to Carter and Beattie but neither could direct their efforts goal wards.

Wayne kept the score at 2-1 in the 81st minute when she tipped a Beattie effort over the cross bar at full stretch.

With two minutes left of the match Gould fired just over the crossbar from 18 yards out with what as it turned out to be the last chance of the match.

Players of the Match: Danielle Carlton (Gills Ladies) and Dan Carter (Arsenal Ladies).

Attendance: 300

Gills: Wayne, Williams, Carlton, Cooper, Trialist, Jones, Smith, Blackie, Tune, Phillips, Crinean

Subs: Massey, Pepper, Taylor, Hardaker, Ashton-Jones

Arsenal: Byrne, Tracy, Ludlow, Flaherty, Grant, Beattie, Carter, Chapman, James, Bragg, Gould

Subs: Fahy, Lawzey, Linnet, Spencer, Ladd

Pictures by Julian Hart Photography