FA Women’s Super League
WEST HAM UNITED WOMEN 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WOMEN 2
JOHN CHUBB at the London Stadium
@JohnCphoenixfm
It was an historic occasion for West Ham United as the London Stadium played host to a Women’s Super League match for the first time, in front of an impressive crowd of nearly 25,000 and the BT Sport cameras.
But United Women couldn’t get the result they wanted, as their Tottenham Hotspur counterparts took all three points.
The game took a while to gain momentum and the erratic weather conditions were of no help to either side.
Then in the 17th minute Kate Longhurst had the first shot on target for the Hammers, but it was comfortably gathered by Spurs goalkeeper Chloe Morgan.
But just after the half-hour mark it was Tottenham who nearly grabbed the lead when Tessel Middag’s shot went just wide of the far post.
Spurs started to create further opportunities, and on 36 minutes centre-forward Rianna Dean headed home to put them 1-0 ahead.
West Ham started brightly in the second half and after Alisha Lehmann had robbed the Tottenham defence of possession, she set up Martha Thomas who had a shot blocked before Longhurst fired the rebound wide of the post.
Soon afterwards at the other end Rosella Ayne went close for Spurs, but her close range effort was blocked superbly by Courtney Brosnan in the West Ham goal, who stopped the ball with her feet.
The hosts had another chance to level the scores on 57 minutes, when a Lehmann cross found Adriana Leon at the far post, and she connected with a header which wasn’t far over the bar.
With 72 minutes gone the pacy Kenza Dali, who had replaced Middag at half-time made a great run towards the area and unleashed a shot that only just went wide.
The Hammers once again came close in the 77th minute when a close range effort from Thomas went wide with only the keeper to beat.
But Tottenham sealed victory in the 84th minute when second half substitute Lucy Quinn blasted home from close range to put her side 2-0 in front.
West Ham will feel they should have won this encounter as they dominated the match at times, but their finishing let them down on occasions and this is something head coach Matt Beard will no doubt be keen to work on.
But Tottenham also had their moments, displayed the potential to do well in this league and will have been greatly buoyed by today’s win.
West Ham United (Head Coach – Matt Beard): Courtney Brosnan, Cecilia Redisch Kvamme, Gilly Flaherty, Laura Vetterlein, Katharine Baunach, Tessel Middag (Kenza Dali 46), Cho So-Hyun, Kate Longhurst, Adrana Leon (Jacynta Galabadaarachchi 60), Martha Thomas, Alisha Lehmann (Leanne Kiernan 69).
Tottenham Hotspur (Head Coaches – Karen Hills & Juan Amoros): Becky Spencer, Ria Percival, Hannah Godfrey, Anna Filbey, Siri Worm (Ashleigh Neville 80), Chloe Peplow, Josie Green, Rachel Furness, Rianna Dean, Rosella Ayan (Lucy Quinn 70), Kit Graham (Angela Addison 90).
Attendance: 24,790
