High five for Ladies

Another impressive performance from West Ham United Ladies saw them overcome an early setback to take all three points on their travels to Chesham United.

After taking the game to the home side in the initial minutes the Hammers fell behind when Lisa Nixon broke away and found herself one-on-one with the advancing Toni-Anne Wayne in the Hammers goal, the referee judged that Wayne had caused an infringement on Nixon and awarded a penalty and showed her a yellow card.

Gemma Fraser fired home the spot kick to put the home side in front after 19 minutes.

The unsettled Hammers gradually regained the momentum and began to but pressure on the Chesham goal and it paid off with two quick goals, first on 34 minutes from Katie Bottom who drove the ball low into the near post corner of the net, then on 35 minutes Jade Skillen pushed forward and found space on the edge of the box to drive the ball past the stranded keeper.

At the start of the second period it took just 90 seconds for West Ham to extend their lead, a long ball out wide to the left found Kelley Blanchflower who just kept running at the defence and as they backed off she took the chance to drive the ball firmly into the back of the net.

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The home team looked defeated but they still tried to beat the Hammers keeper again, causing Wayne to pull off three fine saves.

On 77 minutes the Hammers added a fourth, this time from Natalie Crinean who collected the ball inside the box, beat her marker and drove the ball home, giving the keeper no chance.

But Chesham were not giving up easily and within 60 seconds reduced the deficit again when Gemma Fraser forced the ball over the line from close range from a low, hard cross from the right flank.

The Hammers finally sealed the victory on 86 minutes when Cherrelle Albert beat the Chesham offside trap. She ran onto a through ball, rounded the advancing keeper and slotted the ball home into an empty net.

West Ham United: Toni-Anne Wayne, Lilly Mellors, Jade Skillen, Sophie Reed, Stacey Little, Mel Abegglen, Katie Bottom, Emily Masters (Natalie Crinean 46), Cherrelle Albert (Katie Sorenson 86), Becky Merritt, Kelley Blanchflower (Sophie McLean 61).
Subs not used: Rikki Page.