West Ham United Ladies 0 Barnet Ladies 1
West Ham United will have to beat Colchester United in the final group game of the FA Womens Tesco Premier League Cup to keep alive their knockout stage hopes after this slender home defeat.
Even a Hammers win will not be enough if Queen's Park Rangers do not better that result in their own last game. It was always going to be a tough ask against a Barnet side playing in a division above after last season's promotion to the National League.
The goal that decided the match came on 32 minutes, a hopeful punt forward from Barnet's Katie O'Leary split the Hammers defence, Jo Woodgates tried to get a foot on the ball but it fell kindly for Stacey Sowden who had time to side foot the ball in from 12 yards out.
Becky Merritt drew a terrifc save from Barnet's keeper in the second spell and Holly Griffin came close to applying a finishing touch to Emma Thomas' cross but an equaliser would not come.
Before the Hammers League Cup destiny is sorted there are two tough league games on the horizon. Firstly next Sunday, the Ladies travel to at Portsmouth and then on 2 September entertain neighbours Charlton Athletic at Thurrock.