Gillingham Ladies suffered a home defeat as C&K Basildon ran out victors at Chatham Town FC on Thursday night.

In a battle of third versus fourth, C&K Basildon took advantage to jump to second in the league at the expense of Gills.

After 5-0 victory the previous weekend, Gills manager Jack Wheeler made three changes to the side. Rachel Ahern, Danni Farmer and Grace Seely coming in to the starting line up in the places of Millie Waud, Sharna Giordani and Aileen Williams.

The visitors started the brighter and took just seven minutes to open the scoring. From a corner, former Gillingham midfielder Jay Blackie took advantage of chaos inside of the Gills penalty area. Drilling the ball past a crowded six yard box to find the back of the net. 0-1

Gills looked for a quick reply, Jade Keogh testing the C&K Basildon defence with a shot from range. The low effort fizzed wide of the left hand post.

C&K Basildon had a commanding hold of the first half, twice testing Gills again before the half hour mark. Zoe Rushen coming close before Angela Addison sent an effort over the top of the crossbar.

Gills were clinical when handed their first effort on target, Grace Seely cooly played through Jenny Newman and the forward raced on to the pass to go one on one with C&K Basildon goalkeeper. Newman slotting the ball past Nikita Runnacles to level the tie. 1-1

Gills had the chance to go ahead just two minutes later when Danni Farmer sent a shot over the crossbar from close range.

The tie was only level for five minutes before C&K regain the lead. From yet another corner, Dannka Revell converting to give the visitors the advantage as the half time interval approached.

Half Time: Gillingham LFC 1 (Newman, 35′) C&K Basildon LFC 2 (Blackie 7′, Revell 40′)

After the break, Gills came out flying from the blocks. Kallie Balfour’s burst of pace caused all sorts of problems. Breaking free of her defensive markers, the forward was able to get a square ball across the box to Jenny Newman. Newman’s strike was instinctively on target, but a great block by a C&K Basildon defender stopped the goal bound effort.

C&K responded in a half that was turning into an end to end battle. Angela Addison’s twists and turns caused Gills defence some issues. Addison was able to get a shot in but sent the effort over the target.

Newman had yet another chance when Esther Anu’s clever play on the wing gave her space to find a low cross into the box. Balfour collected the ball to set up Newman, her low shot was well saved by Runnacles to keep the visitors in the lead.

However with ten minutes left on the clock the game took a sad turn when Gills defender Vanisha Patel fell awkwardly in a challenge twisting her knee, her teammates were visibly upset before the full back left the field of play on a stretcher.

After the delayed period the match got back underway, however, the injury to Patel looked to be playing on the minds of the hosts.

Into added time, second half substitute Millie Waud made a late attempt to win the ball as April Bowers charged into the penalty area, bringing down the ex Gillingham player in the process. C&K awarded the spot kick and the chance to seal the game and the points up.

Bowers stepped up to convert the penalty with a rifled shot into he right hand side of the net. 1-3

Gills had a chance to grab a late goal with the last effort of the game, Jade Keogh’s looping cross found Kallie Balfour on the six yard box. She sent her header flying over the top of the crossbar.

FULL TIME: Gillingham LFC 1 (Newman 35′) C&K Basildon LFC (Blackie 7′, Revell 40′, Bowers (p) 90+6′)

Gillingham Ladies: Courtney Shanly, Emily Symonds, Rachel Ahern (Millie Waud 50′), Vanisha Patel (Aileen Williams 80′), Lotti Klatt, Grace Seely, Esther Anu, Jade Keogh, Danni Farmer (Sharna Giordani 74′), Jenny Newman, Kallie Balfour

Unused Subs: Cara Davies, Faith Cooper-Cullen

C&K Basildon Ladies: Nikita Runnacles, Amy Nash, Dannka Revell, Laken Duchar Clark, Jay Blackie, Zoe Rushen, Angela Addison, Theresa Addison, Ellie Manning, Kerry Stimpson, April Bowers

Subs: Hayley West, Karissa Rodney, Lily Mellors

Att: 52

Images courtesy of http://kentproimages.co.uk/html-default/