Gills Ladies are through to the third round of the FA Cup for the third season in a row, after a well-deserved 3-0 win against Colchester United Ladies on Sunday afternoon.

Match report by Megan Sumner

Gillingham dominated the game from the start, creating a number of chances throughout and ensured Colchester failed to make it five wins from five games against the Ladies.

Natalie Crinean scored an impressive brace with one goal in either half, before Danielle Carlton secured the Gills place in round three with a great strike late on.

Manager Ian Varley was boosted by the return of Sarah Jones after seven weeks out with a broken foot, whilst new signing Toni-Ann Wayne made her debut for the club.

The Gills took the lead after just 10 minutes when Natalie Crinean took picked up the ball and fired the her shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

Colchester’s defence was strong, well organised and composed and denied Gills a second goal from Danielle Carlton’s corner shortly after.

With 26 minutes gone, Gillingham Ladies created another goal scoring opportunity when Danielle Carlton had a shot from a tight angle which smashed into the side netting.

Moments later, Colchester’s Megan Doyle floated a corner into the six yard area, which led to an almighty goalmouth scramble as Colchester desperately searched for an equaliser. The Gills defence through bodies at the ball and a combination of Amy Taylor and then Emma Tune managed to clear the danger.

Danielle Carlton created another chance for Gill’s after 30 minutes, with a good effort from just inside Colchester’s half. Carlton’s speculative effort from a long way out flew just over the cross bar.

Only minutes later Danielle Carlton steered an accurate pass to Laura East who was denied a goal by a good save from Colchester’s goalkeeper.

Just before the half time whistle Gillingham’s Emma Tune and Lauren Williams played a neat one-two and managed to squeeze a great pass through to Natalie Crinean who had an opportunity for her second goal, but saw her shot sail well wide.

Half Time 1-0

The Gills came out in the second half and picked up where they left off at the end of the first half leaving Colchester with little chance of getting back into the game.

Danielle Carlton had the first chance of the second half after 53 minutes when she fired a fierce shot which was equally matched by a great save from Colchester’s goalkeeper.

In the 55th minute, Natalie Crinean managed to bag her second goal of the game and 15th of the season, by picking up the ball well outside of Colchester’s area, and racing at full tilt into the box before burying a shot into the bottom corner.

Colchester made a double substitution in the 58th minute looking for some inspiration, and a way back into the FA Cup tie.

Colchester’s Alex Shepherd earned a booking on 61 minutes following a foul on Gillingham’s Amy Taylor. Shepherd was warned

by the referee for a series of questionable challenges and was eventually punished when her miss-timed tackle saw her sliding late into Taylor making no contact with the ball.

In the 63rd minute, Colchester gained a corner following a miss placed pass. Zoe Rushen’s set piece was fired into the danger zone only to be met by a fine catch through a crowd of players from debutant goalkeeper Toni-Ann Wayne.

Moments later a piece of fine play saw a flick on from Natalie Crinean which was accurately met by Laura East who had her first shot on target of the match. It was a good chance for Gillingham but East’s headed effort failed to hit the target and sailed harmlessly over the cross bar.

In the 67th minute, Gillingham’s Vicky Ashton Jones had a great opportunity to make it 3-0 to the Gills.  Danielle Carlton ran with the ball and neatly fed it through to Jones who was unlucky not to find the back of the net, firing straight at the keeper when through one on one.

Danielle Carlton sealed the win for Gills with their third goal to put the game beyond Colchester. Natalie Crinean’s miss hit cross found Carlton who tucked the ball into the corner of the net with 15 minutes of the game left to play.

Shortly afterwards Toni -Ann Wayne pulled off a brilliant save by diverting the ball over the cross bar from Karissa Rodney’s shot.

With moments to go Toni-Ann Wayne secured a clean sheet by pulling off another great save to keep out a Karissa Rodney free kick.

Colchester were arguably the toughest team Gillingham could have drawn for the second round. Yet Gillingham celebrated an unexpected but well-deserved win over the team sitting top of the Southern Premiership table.

Final Score 3-0

Gills: Wayne, Williams, Jones S, Cooper, Carlton, East, Taylor, Tune, Phillips (Smith, 78), Ashton-Jones, Crinean (Massey, 78)

Colchester: Runnacles, West, Jiggins, Rodney, Guyon, Bass, Ruskin, Gampy, Shepherd, Gowland, Doyle

Subs: Chaddell, Southgate

Picture supplied by Julian Hart Photography