Simon Ratcliffe's Ladies side are preparing for their biggest game of the season to date when they take on London Corinthians in the Kent Women's Cup Final
Gillingham Ladies will be looking to retain the Kent Women’s Cup for a third successive year when they London Corinthians at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Wednesday.The final, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm, will see two of Kent’s leading women’s teams battle it out for silverware.
Gillingham Ladies have enjoyed a good run in the competition following a first round bye.
Gills enjoyed a successful outing to Parkwood Rangers where they won 8-0 before a home tie to Kent Women’s Plate holders Herne Bay Ladies. A Louise Lorton brace and Ashlee Hincks penalty sealed Gills place in the final.
Manager Simon Ratcliffe hopes his team can take the Cup back to MEMS Priestfield Stadium again.
He said: “I’m delighted the club are involved with this final for another year.
“The Kent Women’s Cup is always a priority and a competition the club has enjoyed huge success with over the years. We hope to continue that and be part of another fantastic Kent Cups final.”
“It has been a season of real transition for the club this year. Following one of the most successful years in the club’s history, over the summer a whole host of players departed and the club has been rebuilding a team to continue to lead the way in women’s football in Kent.
“The squad we have at Gillingham Ladies have really stuck together this season. Over the months the team has got better, our style of football improved and we are beginning to see the potential we truly have at the football club to push on to be bigger and better next season.”
The Gills manager is fully aware of the threat London Corinthians will present, particularly having enjoyed such goal scoring prowess in this County Cup competition.
“London Corinthians have scored a lot of goals to get to the final and having conceded just one goal so far, we know it will take a huge amount of effort to win the Women’s Cup,” Simon added.
Captain Lauren Williams, who has been with the club for five seasons, reiterated the significance on Wednesday’s match.
“During my time at Gillingham Ladies, the Kent Cup has always been a competition we have been keen to do well in. The bragging rights of being Kent’s best women’s team is something we’ve sustained for a few years now either as winners of the competition or runners up.”
“We’ve had a tough season in the league this year and Wednesday night offers us the chance to win some silverware. We know London Corinthians are going to be a very hard team to beat.
"With our Reserves also in this competition it means many are cup tied and we will be low on numbers but hopefully the Gillingham faithful will come down to Maidstone to roar us on and act as a twelfth player.
“It will be a great event under the floodlights and for fans who have watched us already, they’ll know we like to get the ball down and play football. For those who haven’t come to watch the women’s team yet, we’d love to see you on Wednesday and make it feel like a home game.
“We know with the support we receive on a weekly basis that Gills fans know how to get a game going. Hopefully we can record an enjoyable and successful night for the club and fans.”
Watch the final between Gillingham Ladies and London Corinthians on Wednesday 25th March at Maidstone United, 7:45pm kick off.
Tickets are priced £6 for Adults and £4 for Concessions. Tickets can be purchased at the turnstiles on the night of the final.