By Chris Dicketts
The Gills lost their first game of the season this weekend as they went down 1-2 at home to promotion chasers Lewes.
Manager Ian Varley made one change to the team that beat Spurs, with Kylie Overton coming in to replace Natalie Crinean. The star striker dropped to the bench having picked up a hamstring strain last weekend.
The Gills were off the pace from the start as Lewes set about trying to dominate with their 4-5-1, and flooding the midfield to stifle Gills creativity.
Lewes had the first chance of the game when Clare Trafford had a shot that cannoned back off Kelly Herrett. From the resulting clearance Ashlee Hincks raced down the right wing and hit a shot straight at the keeper after creating space for herself.
The away side then took the lead when Helen Whilton, who was dangerous with her set pieces all afternoon, whipped in a corner and Kerry Dawkin rose unmarked to make it 0-1.
It wasn't long before Lewes doubled their lead. Captain Becky Lyon tried to pass the ball back to Katie Duffy, it was too high forcing the keeper to chest it and her kick landed straight at the feet of Emma Millington, who slotted into an empty net to make it 0-2.
This seemed to spur the Gills back into life and straight from the kick off Vicky Ashton-Jones went down the left wing and played in Kylie Overton. The resulting shot was well saved by Patricia Gowler in the Lewes goal.
In the 24th minute Kelly Newton rose unmarked from a corner and headed the ball just over Katie Duffy's cross bar.
Good work just before the half hour mark from Ashlee Hincks saw the lively Vicky Ashton-Jones break into the box but she couldn't quite get her shot away.
As the clock ticked towards half time Ashlee Hincks had a shot from distance that was just wide of the Lewes goal.
Then just as the Gills looked to be heading in at half time two goals behind, Danielle Farmer popped up to bag her sixth goal of the season. Ashlee Hincks played a deft ball over the top of the static Lewes defence and Farmer found herself with time to slot the ball over the keeper and make it 1-2.
The Gills should have gone into the break on level terms when Danielle Farmer turned provider and found Ashlee Hincks. From the edge of the area her shot went just over the cross bar when it would on another day have found the back of the net.
Half Time 1-2
The Gills were out early in the second half as they looked to take the game to their opponents and salvage something from the match.
In the 51st minute Vicky Ashton-Jones played in Ashlee Hincks and the resulting shot was well saved by Patricia Gowler.
The Gills began to dominate from this point as they looked for an equaliser that would net them at least a point from the game.
In the 55th minute Vicky Ashton-Jones broke down the left wing she fed the ball to Danielle Farmer but her shot went just wide.
Just after the hour mark Ashlee Hincks found substitute Natalie Crinean but her shot went just wide of the goalkeeper's near post.
In the 77th minute Ashlee Hincks crossed into the Lewes area, Natalie Crinean headed the ball on and Vicky Ashton-Jones had a shot that was cut out for a corner.
In the 84th minute disaster struck for the Gills as Kelly Herrett was adjudged to have fouled Clare Trafford inside the area. The referee awarded a penalty for what looked like a dive from the Eduardo school of diving. Helen Whilton stepped up and stroked the ball about 12 yards wide of Katie Duffy's goal in what could be the worst penalty ever seen at Martin Grove.
The Gills had one final chance as the clocked tick down to the end of the game; Ashlee Hincks picked the ball up from long range and fired in a shot that flew just past the goalkeepers near post.
Girl of the Match: Vicky Ashton-Jones
Gills: Katie Duffy, Whitney Judd, Becky Lyon (c), Kelly Herrett, Georgie Tricker (Charlotte Thurston, 45), Les Kay (Jodie Mugford, 70), Danielle Farmer, Amy Russ, Vicky Ashton-Jones, Ashlee Hincks and Kylie Overton (Natalie Crinean, 62).
Subs not used: Anna Broad
Lewes: Patricia Gowler, Stephanie O'Reilly, Emma Millington, Kerry Dawkin, Helen Whilton, Kelly Newton, Jamie Daly (Rachel Dangerfield, 33), Keira Chapman, Clare Trafford, Juliette Deny, Katie Hodges (Kirsty Spice, 80)
Subs not used: Lauren Harding
