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A free-kick from Leslie Kay and an Anna Broad brace were enough to send the Gills into the hat and a Second Round match in a fortnight.
The Gills started off brightly and could have opened the scoring in the first minute when Broad's free-kick just over 20 yards out sailed over the upright.
Gravesend broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when their right back sprung the offside trap and sent an angled drive past Alison Smith in the Gillingham goal.
The Gills pushed forward for an equalising from the restart and came close in the 14th minute when Broad's corner fell to captain Becky Lyon, her shot ricocheted to Kirsty Woolard but the young striker sent her shot over the bar.
Lyon was booked in the 31st minute for a late tackle on the Gravesend left-back.
A minute later and the scores were level. A Gravesend centre-half handled just outside the penalty area and Kay scored a spectacular equaliser from 20 yards when she lofted her shot over the wall and past the Gravesend goalkeeper.
The Gills extended their lead in first-half injury time when Lyon's throw to Woolard was squared to Broad, and the left-midfielder drilled the ball home.
Gills Ladies Manager Hugo Langton replaced Whitney Judd with Gina Payne at half-time.
The second-half started brightly but the Gills had to wait until the 63rd minute for their third goal. Payne's ball into the area saw a goalmouth scramble and Broad managed to send the ball through the huddle of players and past the Gravesend keeper.
Payne almost made it a fourth from the kick-off when she chased down a loose ball and lobbed the ball inches wide of the goalkeeper's far post.
Gravesend pulled a goal back in the 78th minute when their striker fired in at the far post after the Gills defence failed to stop a cross.
Langton used his remaining substitutes in the 87th minute when Vicki Crawford and Leanne Stevens replaced Kirsty Goodall and the injured Nikki Seath respectively.
Gravesend pushed forward for an equaliser but the Gills Ladies managed to see out the remaining minutes and earn a well-deserved place in the Second Round.
Gills Ladies Manager Hugo Langton was delighted with the result but admits his side can play better: "It was quite a battle out there at times and we had to dig in. At times today, we didn't play the football that we can and credit must go to Gravesend as they didn't let us. To score three goals like we did, that was pleasing. We had a good 20 minute spell in the first-half where we played some good football. We had to roll our sleeves up at times and it was pleasing that we did that when we had to.
"It would obviously be a local side that we get in he Second Round and I would like a home-tie as that would be perfect for us.
"Gina Payne had a blatant penalty that got turned down. It is not the first time that has happened this season. I had to bite my lip as last time it happened, I got into a bit of trouble. These things happen but at the end of the day, we got the result. |
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