Gills Ladies beat Keynsham in a tight game at Chatham Town on Sunday afternoon to move into fourth place in the Southern Premiership.

The Gills took the lead when a clearance from Keynsham smashed home off a Keynsham player with Lauren Phillips lurking in the second minute.

Keynsham equalised with four minutes of the first half to play when Suzanne Grant chipped Sarah Quantrill inside the 18 yard box.

Vicky Ashton-Jones netted the winner and what a spectacular goal it was, whether it was intended remains to be seen. The winger was wide out on the right hand side when she unleashed a cross come shot that flew into the net off the far post around the hour mark.

The first attack of the match resulted in the first goal of the match for the second home game in a row for the Ladies.

Emma Tune started the move when she slotted in Vicky Ashton-Jones, her cross found Bryony Smith at the far post her shot was cleared by a defender, only for her to see it hit her own player and fly into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

It wasn’t until the seventh minute of the game that Keynsham had their first shot on goal; it was Michelle Green who tried her luck from distance but picked out Sarah Quantrill in the Gills goal.

The game then went off the boil a little as both sides battled to control the midfield and take the upper hand.

With 23 minutes gone Deanna Cooper picked the ball up in her own half, before setting off on a mazy run that ended with her pulling her shot just wide of the far post.

Three minutes later and a long ball from Keynsham found Kelly Aldridge in space in the Gills area, with Sarah Quantrill to beat, her attempted lob was well held by the Gills custodian.

The Gills could have extended their lead on the half hour mark, a Danielle Carlton cross was headed back across goal by Danni Farmer. Lauren Phillips saw her shot cleared off the line and away for a corner. The resulting corner was swung in by Danielle Carlton again and Vicky Ashton-Jones saw her shot crash back off the cross bar.

Then shortly before half time Keynsham got the equaliser, a ball over the Gills defence found Suzanne Grant with time and space to take a touch and lift the ball over Sarah Quantrill to make it 1-1.

Half Time 1-1

In the second half as the game wore on their looked like there would only be one winner as the Gills pushed forwards.

It was Keynsham who had the first effort of the second period however as Ashley Reinecke fired wide from 18 yards out.

Vicky Ashton-Jones had the first effort for the Gills in the second half when she turned and rifled her shot straight at the Keynsham keeper.

The Gills then took the lead once more when Vicky Ashton-Jones found the net from distance; she was picked out on the far side. Having shaken off the attentions of the full back she sent a cross into the area, but saw it curl towards the far post and sure enough it flew into the net off the post to make it 2-1.

Just a minute later and Emma Tune forced the keeper into a good save with her feet to keep Keynsham in the game.

Emma Tune and Jay Blackie missed a couple of half chances between them from Danielle Carlton crosses as the Gills looked to extend their lead further.

With ten minutes to go another Danielle Carlton cross found Bryony Smith at the back post and her shot forced a good save from Amber Thornell in the visitor’s goal, as the Gills youngster looked to wrap up the points.

With time ticking away Sarah Quantrill pulled off an excellent point blank save from Suzanne Grant to ensure that the Gills took all three points home.

Full Time 2-1

Gills: Quantrill, Williams, Cooper, East, Tune, Hardaker (Blackie, 60), Smith, Phillips (Massey, 79), Farmer, Ashton-Jones, Carlton

Subs not used: Crinean

Keynsham: Thornell, Oeser, Hutton, Rouemaine, Sage, Reinecke, Green, Rusek, Aldridge, Grant, Lapham

Subs: Ziolek, Tweed

Picture supplied by Julian Hart Photography