Defeated by Manchester City on the opening day of the 2023/24 Barclays Women’s Super League season, West Ham United travelled to Brighton’s Broadfield Stadium on Sunday – with their opponents in fine form after picking up three points at Everton a week ago.
BHA: Baggaley; Kullberg, Thorisdóttir, Bergsvand; Pattinson, Olme, Losada, Robinson; Lee, Bremer, Terland
WHU: Arnold; Cooke, Cissoko, Shimizu; Smith, Stringer, Hayashi, Denton; Asseyi, Ueki, Denton
Keen to press from the commencement of Sunday’s clash in Crawley, the Hammers should have found themselves ahead early on – although Kirsty Smith’s effort failed to hit the target from close range.
Yet Smith would make amends for that squandered chance almost immediately. Riko Ueki’s was parried into her path by Sophie Baggaley, and she made no mistake as she thundered Rehanne Skinner’s side into the lead with just twelve minutes on the clock.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe hosts did enjoy chances of their own, namely through Pauline Bremer and Elisabeth Terland – but between Hawa Cissoko and Mackenzie Arnold, the Hammers were able to preserve their slender lead.
But the Seagulls’ spirit would be dampened merely six minutes into the second half, as Ueki latched onto Lisa Evans’ free-kick delivery to head a tidy effort past Baggaley – doubling the visitors’ advantage in the process.
The hosts failed to find a response, and they’ll be hoping for a much-improved performance next weekend as they host Tottenham Hotspur at the American Express Community Stadium. West Ham United might struggle to keep this momentum flowing though, with a trip to Chelsea’s Kingsmeadow up next.
