By Megan Sumner
Gills Ladies are through to their second Kent Cup final in three years after a fortuitous 1-0 win against Ebbsfleet on Sunday afternoon.
After last week's impressive performance win over Colchester in the FA Cup Gillingham were expected to comfortably advance to the final, and despite doing so, were made to work hard as Ebbsfleet dominated for long periods.
Throughout the first half the Gills could only create a few half chances as they struggled to exert any authority on the game.
Fortunately the Ladies picked up slightly during the second half and Laura East managed to secure Gills' place in the final with a great strike just after the hour mark.
Ebbsfleet had the first opportunity of the game however as Lisa Fulgence connected well with a corner, only to see her effort fly over Jessica Nunn's cross bar.
It took the Gills until the 14th minute to muster their first effort on goal as Lauren Philips fired a shot straight at Faye Baker in the Fleet goal, after a great pass from Lauren Williams to start the move off had played her in.
Moments later Ebbsfleet were awarded a free-kick in a threatening position - the ball was floated into the area creating yet another opportunity for the visitors as Gills failed to clear the danger and this allowed Fulgence to have her second opportunity, but was denied a goal after a great save from Nunn.
In the 27th minute Amy Taylor got hold of the ball in midfield for the hosts, and instead of attempting to break through the defence to make an opportunity she chose to strike from all of 40 yards. Rather predictably the effort went straight over the bar and the chance went begging.
Gillingham struggled to maintain possession in the first 45 minutes which gave Ebbsfleet confidence as the half progressed, and they dominated proceedings as a result.
However neither side were able to make a breakthrough before the interval.
H/T: 0-0
The second half continued where the first one had left off despite Ian Varley's half-time team talk, as the Ladies continued to give away possession cheaply.
Ebbsfleet created the first opportunity of the half as Fulgence caused more problems with her blistering pace for the Gills defence.
She took the ball around several Gills players from the centre of midfield all the way to the edge of the penalty area, where she struck a shot which was yet again denied by another great save by Nunn.
Ten minutes into the second half Gills finally picked up their performance and started to show the quality expected from them, creating a number of half-chances through Natalie Crinean and Vicky Ashton-Jones that couldn't be converted.
On the hour mark Philips had another good chance with virtually an open goal, which should have seen Gills take the lead, but the Ebbsfleet defence were proving to be resilient and somehow managed to hack the ball to safety.
Moments later Danielle Carlton was given a fantastic chance to give the hosts the lead but she smashed the ball over the bar from just inside the six yard box, after Ashton-Jones had presented an inviting ball into the danger zone.
In the 67th minute Gills finally broke the deadlock as Carlton guided the ball into the area, and East was on target to fire a fierce shot beyond Baker to make it 1-0.
Fleet immediately set off to find the equalizer, keeping the Gills on their toes continuously. However they failed to make any clear-cut opportunities as the Gills defence stood firm.
With only seconds remaining Ebbsfleet were awarded a free-kick just outside the Gills area which gave them a great chance to draw level.
Jen Poole stepped up and fired goalwards but found Nunn equal to her effort in the Gills goal to virtually seal the win.
Despite a below par performance and a determined effort from Ebbsfleet, Gillingham Ladies will be in their second Kent Cup final in three years, where they will take on Charlton in April.
F/T: 1-0
Gills: Nunn, Williams, Jones, Witham, Carlton, Tune, East, Phillips, Crinean, Ashton-Jones, TaylorSubs: Smith, Hardaker, Blackie
