I would love nothing more than for us to win a piece of silverware, says Gills boss James Marrs

GILLINGHAM manager James Marrs wants his girls to win a trophy this season.

The Gills travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday to race a tough FA Women’s Cup tie against two-time quarter-finalists.

Gillingham have progressed to the third round after beating Queens Park Rangers 2-1 in the previous round, courtesy of Danielle Carlton’s free-kick and substitute Emma Tune’s extra time winner.

“We are looking forward to the challenge and with the added incentive of getting through to potentially face a Super League team, it is exciting times,” manager James Marrs told the club website.

“We know that they already think they have won the tie and that’s something that we will use to help us find that extra 10% which I’m sure will be needed.

“They are going to be well organised and a physical side, so we know that we will have to dig deep to produce any type of result.”

Forest are no strangers to the Kent side as the teams faced each other last season, when Forest ended Gillingham’s dream with a 3-2 victory at Chatham Town’s Maidstone Road.

“We haven’t forgotten about that game as the winner of our tie last year went on to face Arsenal, so we certainly don’t want to be missing out again this year,” said Marrs.

“We had chances to win the game last year, then they went up the other end to score and obviously went through to the next round.

“The girls remember the feeling they got last year and definitely don’t want that to happen again. We will do all we can to pick up the right result.”

Gillingham have lost top spot to Cardiff City in The FA Premier League Southern Division table, with both sides tied on 26 points from 11 league games.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are in third-place in the Northern Division, going into Sunday’s game at Hucknall Town’s Watnall Road ground.

However, a spell of bad weather has seen fixtures postponements follow on from the Christmas break, meaning the Gills go into only their second competitive game in two months.

“Unfortunately we don’t tend to favour a break as you can’t get any momentum going into the following run of games, but I’m sure it’s the same for all the other teams, so there’ll be no excuses from us,” said Marrs.

“We will be well prepared for whatever Sunday brings.

“The first half of the season has been really, really positive. We’re just hoping that the girls see what they are fighting for in the remainder of the season.

“We are still in the hunt for every competition we have been entered for this season. To say that after Christmas is a massive positive.

“We all know it’s the business end of the season and it’s the teams that are prepared to roll their sleeves up and fight in every game, are the ones who pick up the silverware.”

Marrs added: “I would love nothing more than for us to win a piece of silverware as the work ethic, attitude and desire to achieve from everybody involved with Gillingham Ladies is very, very high.

“If we can manage to secure trophies then that is a massive reward for what has been a promising season so far. But as I have just said it’s all up to now, there is months of the season to go and we must ensure it continues.”

Meanwhile, there will be a pitch inspection at 11:30 on Saturday morning to see if Charlton Athletic’s FA Women’s Cup tie against Sheffield goes ahead.

The clash at Thamesmead Town’s Bayliss Avenue will kick-off at 13:00 on Sunday afternoon if it does.

Sheffield – who top the Northern Division - thrashed Liverpool Feds 10-0 in the last round last Sunday.

Charley Clifford, 23, who scored two goals in seven minutes, which helped Stuart Weston’s side beat Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 in the last round, told the club website: “It’s always good to keep going in the FA Cup because, you never know, wait until the big teams come in and then it will be our cup final.”

Visit Gillingham’s website:  www.glfc2013.wordpress.com

Visit Charlton Athletic’s website: www.cafcwomen.co.uk