Ladies lose to Sky Blues

West Ham United Ladies' winless run extended to six matches with a 3-1 home FA Women's Premier League Southern Division defeat by Coventry City.

Coventry were out of the blocks first at Ship Lane on Sunday afternoon and put the West Ham defence under pressure from the start.

Playing against the strong gusting wind, the Hammers were looking to contain the visitors in the first 45 minutes.

So, when Coventry went ahead midway through the first half when Helen Dermody drove the ball home from an acute angle, it was always going to be an uphill task for the Hammers.

Things got worse when Dermody got her second just before half-time.

Falling two goals behind seemingly inspired the Hammers and they had a period of dominance which resulted in a 65th-minute goal from Kelley Blanchflower. The forward ran onto a through ball that split the visitors' defence and, with the goalkeeper approaching, Blanchflower neatly struck the ball with the outside of her right foot into the far corner of the net.

Unfortunately, Coventry restored their two-goal advantage just minutes later when Destiney Toussaint went on a solo run through the West Ham defence before tucking the ball into the corner of the net.

The Ladies take a break from league action this weekend when they travel to Cardiff City for a must-win League Cup group-stage tie.

Ladies: Wayne, King, Kelly, Reed, West, Morgan, Mellors (Hipley-Hinton 54), Albert, Merritt, Bottom (Masters 71), Blanchflower
Subs not used: Parlane

Elsewhere, the Ladies' reserves went down to a 3-1 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion, with Helena Phillips on target, but there was better news from the club's junior sides.

The U17s produced an outstanding performance to defeat Colchester Town Ladies 12-1, with seven different players hitting the net.

Sarah Harrison bagged a hat-trick, Sarah Wilson, Shellie Sumpter and Aldana Zenker each scored twice, while Ciara Bland, Morgan DiFalco and Stef Paci also found the target.

The result was the perfect response to the U17s' first defeat of the season - a 4-3 home loss to Eastern Avenue the previous weekend.

The U15s were without a game. However, the U13s scored enough goals for both teams as they completed an emphatic 14-0 Essex Girls League victory over East Bergholt.

West Ham United U13s

West Ham United Ladies U13s line up for a photocall

Kelly Wealthall scored four goals, while Mia Seeley and Poppy Binding netted hat-tricks. Sophie Kelly, Hannah Landen, Tessa O'Connor and an own-goal completed the scoring as the U13s continued their 100 per cent start to the season.

Finally, the U11s also maintained their own unbeaten start with a 2-0 home win over St Cleres, with Lucy Brewster and Leigha Bradding-Butler on target.