Women's FA Cup 4th Rd Gillingham LFC v Preston North End WFC

    This Sunday was the Women's FA Cup 4th and the draw for the competition had thrown up 8 intriguing match ups and with the weather having at last settled down and the sun shining looked like all of the ties might actually go ahead as planned. The tie I picked out was an all FAWPL clash and a North versus South tie too as Preston North End WFC had been drawn out to face Gillingham LFC. Both teams in the top 4 of their respective divisions.

    Gillingham had caught my attention by beating what I thought would be a hard opponent in Nottingham Forest in the previous round after I had seen them comfortably beat Wolves Women 3-0 in the 2nd round. Gillingham though came away victorious with a 1-0 win. Their opponents likewise had achieved an impressive victory in the previous round being the 1st WPL club to knock a new WSL 2 team out of the competition when they beat Yeovil 3-0. Locking horns in the 4th round it was one of three ties that guaranteed a non WSL club would reach the 5th round.

    The journey wasn't too bad from Norfolk to Kent over the Dartford Crossing the weather bright and sunny as I arrived at Chatham Town FC where the tie was to be played. A nice example of a non league ground with a good character to it, made all the better with having a bar and refreshments. Taking in both as I took a look around with both teams warming up it was clear that both were very much up for this tie and confident. I know little about both teams but had a feeling this was going to be a close game.

    It was Gillingham in their blue shirts with white sleeves, blue shorts and socks that got the game underway. Their opponents Preston kitted out in dark pink shirts and navy shorts and socks were the first to have an effort on goal and indeed put it into the back of the net however the linesman flag was up.. offside. The game started at a furious pace high tempo both teams looking to advance up the pitch with the ball quickly, Gillingham's Charlotte Gurr looked to play a thru ball onto striker Lisa Fulgence two Preaton defenders converging quickly to stifle the danger.

     Out wide on the left Gillingham's Fliss Gibbons had space to run into crossed from the edge of the box foinding the feet of the advancing Danielle Chartlon her shot straight at Preston keeper Danielle Brown and pushed over for a corner. Preston were on the attack soon after attacker Melissa Ball taking advantage of a defensive mistake runs into the box her shot however is pulled wide of the post. The end to end football is putting defenders under pressure on both sides the attacking players working hard to run the ball down.

   Fliss Gibbons has plenty of space to run into on the left flank and whenever her team mates get the ball to her feet she is able to run to the by line and cross or drive into the box a chance as she lays the ball off to Lisa Fulgence the strikers effort narrowly over but adjudged offside. Spell of pressure from the home side a corner is drilled in low and curl into the near post but Preston have a defender on the line to clear. Danielle Chartlon with another effort stabs her shot high forcing a stretching save from Danielle Brown to keep her goal intact.

     The high tempo continuing unabated meant there was very little time for any player to settle on the ball mistakes were giving opportunities to both teams form one defensive mis kick Preston's Sophie Jones was able to latch onto the loose ball and from the inside of the box tried to lob it over Gillingham keeper Faye Baker but in doing so cleared the bar too. Preston's Melissa Ball out on the left powers forwards into the box to deliver an inviting cross along the six yard line but no one is able to send it goal wards.

    Preston's Katie Anderton catches possession from Gillingham's defence and drives towards goal. Faye Baker is quick off her line goes to ground but keeping her arms up is able to smother the attempted lob enough to push the ball wide, Anderton tries to get to the ball to get a shot at the acute angle by then Gillingham have recovered to clear their lines. Gilligham's Lisa Fulgence brings the ball down superbly hooking it between two Preston defenders launches a shot beating the keeper but so too the post.

     At half time the score is 0-0

   Preston made a change at the start of the 2nd half bringing on Paige Forster for Alice Forshaw in midfield. It was Gillingham though that started the 2nd half stronger after an edgy few opening minutes Gillingham's Charlotte Gurr was fouled 30 yards out around the edge of the D. The free kick struck by Danielle Charlton beat the Preston wall getting the merest of touches and going wide for a corner. Preston were finding themselves penned back in their own half Gillingham though couldn't find that all important final ball.

    For all this pressure Gillingham were always vulnerable to a counter attack and it came through Preston captain Laura Walker winning the ball back played it to Sophie Jones who passes it forwards into the path of the advancing Paige Forster. Great defending from Gillingham prevents her from getting a shot away as the ball is taken from her feet and put out for a corner. Fliss Gibbons picks up an injury and is replaced by Nikita Whinett.

   It was the sub who was to help create the goal scoring opportunity as out on the left corner of the area Whinett has her feet taken out from under her and the referee awards a free kick. Jade Keogh to take she launches it at the perfect height towards the near post but doesn't need a touch as it goes in to make it 1-0. The dead lock broken with just 15 minutes left to play. Gillingham midfielder Emma Tune has a chance chased down she blazes it over the bar.

   Another chance for Lisa Fulgence hits the post but again the linesmans flag is raised. Preston are having to take chances leaving space at the back as they search for an equaliser. Katie Anderton battles with four defenders around her nearly squeezes through but can't beat five as the ball is cleared. Jade Keogh is taken off, replaced by Lauren Davies taking up Keogh's position on the right she has plenty of space to run towards goal drills a ball across the six yard box to Nikita Whinett to make it 2 but her 1st touch is poor and Preston clear for a corner. The visitors can't fashion another chance as the referee blows for full time and Gillingham beat Preston 1-0 to advance to the 5th round.

   A commited and competitive game and really for 75 minutes until the goal was scored it could have gone either way one goal always looked likely to settle it. Gillingham got it and well done to them for reaching the 5th round. Have to say well done to Preston too though for both teams put in a great effort and it was a great advert for both the FA Cup and WPL football.

    There were another 7 FA Cup ties that took place today and the results are summarised below,

   Sunderland v Watford, was the only all WSL 2 clash and Sunderland rolled out comfortable winners beating Watford 4-1

  Coventry v Brighton was another all WPL affair played at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry ran out 2-0 winners

   Crystal Palace v Portsmouth, the home side the only Regional league team left in the competition gave a spirtede performance but it wasn't enough to beat the WPL side as Portsmouth reached the 5th round for the 1st time in their history with a 3-2 win

   Doncaster v Copsewood, this was a huge occasion for the Midlands Combination side against their WSL 2 hosts at the Keepmoat Stadium who proved too strong as Doncaster ran out 4-1 winners.

  Reading v Blackburn, the 1st if three ties featuring a WSL 2 club against a WPL opponent I thought there could be an upset at one of these and indeed Blackburn ran Reading close taking it to extra time before Reading scored twice to beat Blackburn 2-0

   Durham v Sheffield, the visitors top of WPL North took the lead against Durham but the home side came back to win 3-1

   Cardiff v London Bees, the home side leading WPL South were the one to cause the upset beating London Bees 1-0 after extra time and make it 4 WPL teams along side 4 WSL 2 teams to be joined by the WSL 1 big guns in the 5th round draw.

   The 5th round will throw up some more fascinating match ups that's for sure.