For their second game of the season the ladies travelled to face Lewes, who are one of the favourites for promotion hoping to erase the memory of lasts season's 7-1 thrashing.

Manager Martin Andrews was forced to make five changes to his team, in came Kim Bolden, Tina Martin, Kirsty Goodall, Kelly Seath and Vicky Ashton Jones as the ladies looked for their first win after a promising point against Bedford Belles last week.

Lewes started the brighter of the two teams and their direct style of football caused the Gills a few problems. After weathering the initial storm it was Gillingham who started to control the game with Kelly Seath in particular involved in everything.

On 15 minutes the Ladies took the lead after good work down the right by Whitney Judd, Kirsty Goodall found Captain Becky Lyon on the edge of the box and her speculative effort sailed over the Lewes keeper to give the Gills a 1-0 lead.

As expected Lewes came back into the game and started to put the Gillingham under pressure. However, the back four, brilliantly marshaled by Vicky Ashton Jones, kept the home side at bay and the closest they got was a shot that came back off the post as Gillingham held out to go in at the break 1-0.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with Lewes pushing forward without causing the Gillingham defence too many problems. At the other End Kylie Overton had a shot which flew over the bar and Kelly Seath tried her luck from distance but didn't trouble the Lewes keeper.

As the second half wore on you couldn't see Lewes equalising until slack marking and poor concentration on a corner enabled them to level with a fierce shot into the roof of the net. Manager Martin Andrews responded by bringing on fresh legs with Lesley Kay, Gemma Ridge and Teri Reynolds replacing the hardworking trio of Leanne Stevens, Kim Bolden and Becky Lyon.

However it was Lewes who were on the front foot and once again after poor concentration they took the lead in the 87th with a simple tap in from 6 yards out. The Ladies responded well and pushed everyone forward in search of an equaliser. Substitute Lesley Kay hit a 30 yard ball into the path of Gemma Ridge but her shot flew wide of the goal. In the final minute the Gills won a free kick about 25 yards out but Lesley Kay shot wildly over the bar.

This was to be the last action of the game consigning the Ladies to their first defeat of the season. It was a game they controlled for long periods but were undone by poor concentration at two critical parts in the game.

Gillingham Ladies next fixture is on Sunday August 31st at home to Whitehawk, kick off 2pm.

Squad:- Smith, N.Seath, Ashton-Jones, Martin, Judd, Bolden (Ridge), Stevens (Kay), K.Seath, Lyons (Reynolds), Overton, Goodall

Subs Not used:- Broad, Phillips