Duxbury at the double

West Ham United Ladies 2-0 Colchester United Ladies

Tracey Duxbury's second-half double meant the Hammers got off to the perfect start in their FA Tesco Womens Premeir League South opener on Sunday.

The match had been scheduled to play at Colchester but was switched to Thurrock, meaning the 'visitors' in fact became the hosts. They certainly made home advantage count, although for a long spell it seemed the contest would mirror the two goalless draws between the clubs last season.

The deadlock was not even broken on 61 minutes, when Colchester were awarded a penalty. Toni-Anne Wayne produced a superb spot-kick save, as well as blocking the follow-up, and that galvanised the forwards at the other end. Duxbury took over with two goals to wrap up a good win.

This season, the Ladies are looking to improve on last season's fifth-place finish in what looks to be a very open and competitive league with five or six clubs along with the Hammers having credible title aspirations.

New Ladies first-team manager Julia Setford has kept the all the players from last year's campaign and brought in three new faces in the shape of former England Under-23 international Emma Thomas, Stacey Little from Charlton Athletic and Jo Woodgates from Crystal Palace. The new trio have all impressed in the side's pre-season programme which culminated with a 7-0 victory over Southampton a week ago.

West Ham United Ladies
Toni-Anne Wayne, Nat Grafton, Jess Barling, Rosey Sullivan, Jo Woodgates, Clare Rogers, Stacey Little, Carly Roache, Emma Thomas, Gemma Shepherd, Nina Downham, Holly Griffin, Zoe Marshall, Ruby Southgate, Becky Merritt.