Gills Ladies marched into the semi-finals of the Kent Cup with a comfortable victory over Anchorians on Sunday afternoon.

Captain Natalie Crinean lead by example finding the back of the net five times, Vicky Ashton-Jones scored four goals including a six minute hat-trick. Not to be out done Deanna Cooper scored a hat-trick as well and Lauren Phillips bagged a brace, and there was a goal apiece for Emma Tune and Danielle Carlton.

Despite the cold weather and bizarre weather conditions that included rain and snow the Gills were rarely troubled by the visitors, who did well to hold out for twenty-six minutes before conceding the first goal.

There was just a minute on the clock when the Gills had their first shot on goal, a Lauren Phillips cross was turned goal wards by Natalie Crinean.

In the 13th minute Vicky Ashton-Jones was upended just outside the area and Danielle Carlton’s free-kick was cleared for a corner, the corner was over hit and missed everyone in the box and went out on the far side for a throw in.

After 23 minutes a Danielle Carlton free-kick was saved by the knees of the keeper after Natalie Crinean was fouled.

With 26 minutes gone the Ladies did finally take the lead when, Deanna Cooper fired a shot from the edge of the area into the top corner, after some good build up play to make it 1-0.

Just two minutes later Deanna Cooper turned provider as she played in Vicky Ashton-Jones, who calmly lobs the out rushing keeper to make it 2-0.

On the half hour both Deanna Cooper and Natalie Crinean saw efforts well cleared by Anchorians as they looked to extend the Gills lead further.

Two minutes later and Emma Tune played in Natalie Crinean with a slide-rule pass the striker then sent an appetising ball across the box and Vicky Ashton-Jones gratefully lapped it up and slotted home to make it 3-0.

With 34 minutes on the clock winger Lauren Phillips conjured up a delightful cross for Vicky Ashton-Jones to head home and make it 4-0 and score a first half hat trick in six minutes.

The winger wasn’t done their  either as she netted her fourth goal when she tapped home yet another Natalie Crinean cross on the stroke of half time.

Half Time 5-0

The game was over as a contest half time but in the second half the Ladies stepped up a gear and ran in a further 11 unanswered goals.

It didn’t take them long to find a 6th with less than a minute on the clock in the second half, Deanna Cooper cut inside and left the Anchorians defence for dead before fired her second goal into the top corner.

Anchorians had barely kicked off again, before they were nearly picking the ball out of the back of the net for a 7th time. Danielle Carlton saw her rifled left foot shot saved by the legs of the keeper. The ball fell invitingly to Natalie Crinean but she fired her shot wide of goal.

Just four minutes later and the striker got the goal that her creative play had deserved all afternoon. She let fly with an effort from outside the 18 yard box which she saw fly into the bottom corner to make it 7-0 with the aid of the near post.

It didn’t take long for Crinean to net her second of the game as she found her scoring touch, firing home an excellent Lauren Phillips cross with some aplomb to make it 8-0.

The Ladies were dancing their own merry tune with Christmas approaching and just after the hour mark Emma Tune did find the back of the net. Danielle Carlton once again saw her shot well saved, but midfielder Tune in her distinctive white headband was on hand to slot goal number nine into an empty net.

Yet again the Gills surged forward looking to make it double figures and they got their wish just a minute later. Danielle Carlton this time found the back of the net firing in a good cross that was flicked into her path by Natalie Crinean for goal number ten.

Lauren Phillips then cast her own spell on the Anchorians defence, as she ghosted in to the box and slotted home a Danielle Carlton cross to make it 11-0.

It was 12-0 with 13 minutes of the game left to play, and it was also Natalie Crinean’s hat-trick as she fired home with precision from just inside the area.

A minute later Danielle Carlton and Natalie Crinean combined again down the left hand side and once again it led to the Gills striker finding the back of the net, for her fourth and the Gills 13th of the game.

With 10 minutes left to go Deanna Cooper turned provider, she split the Anchorians defence with her pass and Natalie Crinean had the simple task of sliding home her fifth and goal number 14 for the Gills.

Lauren Phillips then add to her goal tally as she rose highest as if by magic to head home a well placed Danielle Carlton cross as the Ladies made it a 15 goal advantage.

The scoring was rounded off with four minutes of the match remaining, and it was fitting that Deanna Cooper who opened the scoring in the first half, rounded off the scoring as well. She took a fantastic touch to flick the ball around an Anchorians defender and fire into the top corner, to complete her hat-trick.

Full Time 16-0

Gills: Quantrill, Williams, Carlton, Cooper, Blackie (Hardaker, 53), Phillips, Tune, Crinean, Ashton-Jones (Massey, 53), East, Smith

Subs not used: Jones

Picture by Julian Hart Photography