All the girls' are up for it - Charlton Athletic and Gillingham lock horns in derby showdown

Unbeaten Gillingham, who narrowly escaped relegation last season but won the Kent Cup (beating Charlton Athletic) and Ryman Women's Cup double, are currently sitting proudly at the summit of The FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division, with two wins and a draw from their opening three games.

James Marrs’ side arrive at Bayliss Avenue fresh from last Sunday’s 5-0 win over Chesham United at Chatham Town’s Maidstone Road ground.

Charlton Athletic, meanwhile, lie in sixth-place in the eleven team division, with four points from their opening three games.

Stuart Weston was encouraged by the Charlton women’s team’s last minute equaliser last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur.

The first team manager was pleased with his side’s persistence against Spurs as Emma Harrison rescued a precious point with almost the last kick of the game.

Charlton Athletic had thrown away yet another 1-0 lead, like they did the previous weekend at Lewes, to go 2-1 down but this time they gained the point that puts them joint with seven other teams on four points, three points behind league leaders Gillingham.

Weston told www.cafcwomen.co.uk: “What was positive from the game was that we went 2-1 down with three or four minutes left and it would have been easy for the girls to resign themselves that we had lost three points again but they kept going.

“For big periods of the game, apart from maybe ten minutes where we took our foot off the gas a bit, I thought we were in control and could have had at least three goals in the first half.

“What I was pleased about this week was that everything that was missing (against Lewes) came back.

“We had a lot of work rate, we were moving the ball quicker and when we move the ball quickly we look good and they struggled to keep up with us.”

Gillingham’s assistant manager Jack Wheeler was full of praise for his team’s accomplished performance during their 5-0 home win over against Chesham United last Sunday.

Wheeler told www.gillinghamladies.co.uk: “I’m very, very happy. The girls put a great shift in and a lot of the stuff we’ve been working on in training has transferred onto the pitch and massively improved us.  So from a coach’s point of view it’s very pleasing to see as it’s a great result and a great performance.

Wheeler said he is pleased with his side’s start to the new campaign.

He said: “We’re really pleased with the girls as obviously now we’re putting together two or three very good performances and it’s starting to come together from the pre-season.

“Now it’s reflecting on our work in the league with seven points out of nine, so from us it’s a massive win and a massive well done to the girls.”

It is clear that both camps are looking forward to Sunday’s showdown at Bayliss Avenue - the home of Ryman Premier League side Thamesmead Town.

Charlton Athletic manager Weston is looking forward to an exciting match with plenty of rivalry on offer.

“I think it will be a competitive game,” he said.  “All the girls are up for it and hopefully we can come away from there with three points.

Charlton Athletic skipper Kim Dixson added: “Gillingham have a few players we know and we have a few players they know so there’s going to be a bit of rivalry.

“The girls will be up for it so it will probably be a really good game”

She added: “We are going in the right direction. I think there’s a lot of pressure on us this year to do well because we are a National Premier League team, which is fair enough.

“Every team is going to want to beat us because of who we are but we need to use that as an advantage and go at teams.

“We can’t take any game for granted. I want to get as many points on the board as possible and we will see where we go from there.”

The Gillingham camp want to get one over their local rivals too.

“The girls are buzzing and can’t wait for the game,” added Wheeler.

“When the games were scheduled it was one of the one’s the girls were looking out for.

“It’s one of our rival games and I know we won’t have to gee the girls up, they’re going to be right on it and want to go  out and give a good account of themselves and try to bring back three points again to make sure we stay top of the table.”

Meanwhile, Gillingham’s Fliss Gibbons, an England under 19 International, who is on loan from Watford, whose season doesn’t start until next April, added: “I used to play for Charlton so I know all about the huge rivalry and I know the majority of the team because I’ve only been at Watford.

“I know the rivalry and I know how important it is for the team so clearly I’m going to go out there and give it my absolute everything. I want to do it for the girls and get the three points.

“It’s just another game. We play the game, not the occasion and I think with the way we played last Sunday, we don’t fear any team. The way we’re playing we will go in their confident we can get the three points.”

Admission prices are £3 (adults) and £1 (concessions).

Quotes courtesy of Charlton Athletic’s website: www.cafcwomen.co.uk  

Quotes courtesy of Gillingham’s website: www.gillinghamladies.co.uk

Charlton Athletic v Gillingham
The FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division
Sunday 15^th September 2013
Kick Off 2:00pm
at Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ