Keynsham Town Ladies 3-1 West Ham United Ladies
FA Women's Premier League Cup first round
West Ham United Ladies crashed out of the FA Women's Premier League Cup in the first round after losing 3-1 away at Keynsham Town Ladies on Sunday.
The Hammers spurned several early chances, before striker Emma Sherwood headed the away side into a 1-0 half-time lead. However, the hosts responded strongly with second half goals from Pilar Garcia, Arianna Somaschini and Justine Lorton-Radburn.
Ladies manager Julian Dicks named an unchanged side from the team that grabbed a last-minute winner at QPR Ladies last week. Katie Bottom returned to the squad as a substitute, replacing Jess Barling in the second half.
If the opening ten minutes were any kind of indication for how this game would pan out, the Hammers would have been the happier side. After breaking through the defence several times Sherwood, Vicky Kinsman and Lindsey Morgan were all denied by Keynsham goalkeeper Elena Pasare.
After 20 minutes, both goalkeepers were called into action. First, Hammers stopper Nikita Runnacles pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Leanne Lapham, before Sherwood forced Pasare into an equally impressive stop.
On 27 minutes, West Ham took the lead from a whipped corner, as former Millwall striker Sherwood leaped to head the ball into the back of the net.
Early in the second half, the Hammers could have doubled their lead. Sherwood's skilful work and low cross found Morgan, whose pass went just behind the onrushing Kelley Blanchflower at the back post.
West Ham's lead lasted till the 54th minute, when Garcia latched onto a ball over the defence before sliding her shot under Runnacles.
The Hammers were then caught out by another ball over the top, this time allowing Somaschini to lob Runnacles as she attempted to close down the Italian midfielder.
Just four minutes later, Keynsham secured the result when Lorton-Radburn's long-range free-kick flew past Runnacles into the top right corner.
The Hammers now have two Southern Division games within the next six days, starting with a home game against Tottenham Ladies on Thursday 4 September, before travelling to Lewes on Sunday 7 September.
Kick off against Spurs is at 7.45pm at Aveley FC's Mill Field Stadium, with admission just £4 for Adults and £2 for U16s.
Ladies: Runnacles, King, Baxter, Revell, Barling (Bottom), Little, Morgan, McCrea, Blanchflower (Donohoe), Sherwood, Kinsman (Mellors)
Subs not used: Lipley-Hinton, Powles