Gillingham Ladies hit the ground running this weekend with victory in their opening game of the season after coming from behind.
Having fell behind in the first half to an Elly Maggs strike, a brace from Deanna Cooper made sure the Gills made it a perfect start to the season.
The Gills travelled to QPR on the opening weekend of the 2011/12 season, looking to make it 2 victories in a row on the opening day of the Southern Premiership season.
The Ladies dominated the game from the start but didn’t really test the QPR keeper and later on the Gills would be made to pay for that.
The first half chance of the game came in the 8th minute when a ball was swung into the Gills box and QPR had three unmarked at the back post but couldn’t get on the end of it.
With 14 minutes on the clock QPR went ahead when the winger ghosted in the Gills full back and crossed to the far post and this time the ball was slotted home by Elly Maggs from six yards to make it 1-0.
The Gills only chance of the half came in the 45th minute when Danni Farmer headed a Bryony Smith cross over from three yards out.
Half time 1-0
In the second half the Gills looked to be get back into the game and ensure that it wasn’t a disappointing start to the season.
However, despite that the first chance of the half went to QPR, yet more defending led to the Hoops hitting the cross bar.
Just before the hour Ian Varley made a double substitution bringing on Laura East and Jodie Mugford for Sian Cheedy and Natalie Crinean. This prompted a positional re shuffle with Katie Hardaker moving to right back, Yasmin Poole to left back and Deanna Cooper moving further forward with Laura East into centre half.
On 63 minutes Deanna Cooper was put through one on one after a great pass by Jodie Mugford, but found the keeper equal to the challenge as she made a good save.
With 14 minutes left to go Deanna Cooper came up with a moment of magic to make it 1-1 and get the Gills back on level terms.
The youngster rounded the QPR centre half before firing her shot into the top corner from the edge of the Penalty area after yet another good through ball by Jodie Mugford.
A minute later Baker tipped the ball round the post for a corner. QPR scored from the corner but the referee disallowed the goal.
With not long left of the game to go Deanna Cooper got on the score sheet again to make it 2-1 to the Gills when she let fly from 25 yards and the ball flew into the top corner.
Charlotte Abbott also had a late chance to get a goal but pulled her shot wide of the post with only moments of the game left.
Once again it is three points on the board for the Gills in an opening game of the Southern Premiership season.
Full time 1-2
Gills: Baker, Poole, Jones, Cooper, Cheedy (East, 60), Tune, Hardaker, Smith (Abbott, 76), Farmer (c), Phillips, Crinean (Mugford, 60).
Subs not used: Witham