By Chris Dicketts

Gills Ladies moved clear at the top of the South East Combination League as title rivals Norwich faltered on Sunday afternoon.

The Gills travelled to Enfield for their fourth game of the season against their rivals and came away with a hard fought 1-0 win.

The result sees the Gills move three points clear of Enfield and ten points clear of Norwich who are their nearest challengers to the title.

Jodie Mugford got the goal in the second half that puts the Gills in the driving seat with just six games to go of the season.

Manager Ian Varley was forced to make one change for the visit to Enfield with Deanna Cooper away on international duty with the England cricket team, Natalie Crinean returned to the starting line up after injury.

The game was one of very few chances from the off and soon became a battle of attrition in the midfield, as both teams battled to assert their dominance on the game.

The first real chance of the game fell to Enfield who had come out of the blocks that little bit quicker than the Gills.

It was Sara Sinclair who had the chance but after a nice through ball she failed to capitalise and put her shot well wide.

Vicky Ashton-Jones was again causing problems for the Enfield defence but on a number of occasions she couldn't quite get the end product right.

In the 22^nd minute the Gills created their best chance of the first half when Ash Hincks broke down the right wing and crossed into the area. The ball made its way to Danni Farmer but her volley was well over the bar from just six yards out.

After that the Gills controlled the rest of the first half and created a number of half chances but none of the efforts from Jodie Mugford, Ashlee Hincks or Natalie Crinean could test the Enfield keeper.

It was all in all a poor first half from a Gillingham side who have created and scored chances at will in recent games.

Half time 0-0

In the second half Enfield again pressed the Gills and created a number of half chances but they couldn't find a way through a stubborn Gills defence combined with their own poor finishing.

The only goal of the game arrived on the hour mark, when the Gills broke free and forced a corner from Enfield.

The resulting corner was taken by Ashlee Hincks and her cross was half cleared by the Enfield defence, and it fell to Jodie Mugford. She instantly hit a shot on the half volley that she steered nicely into the top right hand corner.

Normally the Gills would kick on from here and the flood gates would open but Enfield were proving to be worthy opponents on the day. They reacted really well to going a goal down and had a chance from Gooch cleared off the line by Whitney Judd who was in the right place at the right time.

They then contrived to miss their best chance of the game when Emma Thomas managed to put a shot wide from just eight yards out, when it was probably easier to score.

In the 75^th minute Danni Farmer went close to scoring again when she was played in by Nat Crinean but her she somehow put her shot wide of the post.

The Gills went in search of the second goal that would kill the game off in the 83^rd minute. Ash was put through one on one with the goalkeeper. She hit her shot straight at the keeper and the rebound fell to Natalie Crinean who hit the cross bar with a fine left foot volley.

Further chances spurned late on by the Gills from Ashton-Jones and Farmer nearly cost the Gills as Sara Sinclair was put through one on one with Katie Duffy but she toe poked her shot wide.

The Gills closed out the remaining minutes of the game and gained themselves a massive three points in the title race.

Full time 0-1

Gills: Duffy, Judd, Herrett, Lyon (c), Kay, Mugford (Ahern, 66), East, Farmer, Hincks, Ashton-Jones, Crinean