Women's team off the mark

  • by Jack Sullivan-Bissett
  • Tuesday, 17th September 2019

West Ham United earned their first points of the season with a hard-fought win over Birmingham City at the Rush Green Stadium.

The win takes The Hammers up to fifth in the table as they look to push on following their first ever season in the Women’s top division.

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Birmingham City count former Hammer Brianna Visalli in their ranks and were looking to bounce back after losing their first game of the season to Everton.

West Ham had the better of the first half, but it was the visitors who had the first chance of the game. Birmingham winger Abbi Grant broke down the wing but saw her effort denied by West Ham goalkeeper Brosnan.

The home side weren’t to be denied their chances as well, as the ball was won back well in defence before being played forward to Cho, she played the ball back into midfield to Kate Longhurst who played the ball first time to new signing Galabadaarachchi.

The young Australian toe-poked the ball forward to Martha Thomas who cut inside the Birmingham City defence and was scythed down just outside the box. From the resulting free kick, Katharina Baunach curled the ball over the wall, but just over the bar.

West Ham soon found themselves in a well-deserved lead with a lightning counter-attack. Brosnan rolled the ball out to right back Erin Simon whose long pass found Martha Thomas who was causing the Birmingham defence all sorts of problems.

The summer signing cut the ball back across the box where it found Adrianna Leon via an air shot by Galabadaarachchi. The Canadian placed her first time shot into the bottom corner of Hannah Hampton’s near post.

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The visitors weren’t without the own threat; Lucy Staniforth showing the danger they can offer when her long range shot flew just wide of the West Ham goal.

West Ham took their lead into the second half but Birmingham threatened throughout. Martha Thomas lost the ball in the middle of the pitch and the ball found its way to Birmingham forward Claudia Walker who drilled her shot just wide of the far post.

Birmingham continued to threaten; Adrienne Jordan passed the ball to Sarah Mayling who exchanged passes in midfield before getting the better of Cho and Baunach. She played the ball forward to Walker on the right wing whose cross was very nearly turned into her own net by the West Ham defender.

West Ham had another big scare when a long range shot from midfield was tipped onto the bar by Brosnan before it ricocheted off of the post - and then Brosnan herself - and trickled towards the goal line where it was smothered by the American.

West Ham have a break in league action next week when they travel to play Chelsea in the league Cup. They return to action the following week with another home game against Tottenham.

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