Ladies book place in Cup final after Whyteleafe win

r kmita

Two goals in each half saw West Ham United Ladies beat Whyteleafe 4-0 and claim a place in the final of the Isthmian League Cup.

A near-post finish by Rosie Kmiga and a deft headed effort by Ellie Zoepfl put the Irons in control in the first period.

The Hammers secured the win on 64 minutes after a fantastic team move, finished by Chloe Burr, while Andria Georgiou added a fourth late into the match.

And the win means West Ham Ladies will play in the Isthmian League Cup final with the chance to secure a piece of silverware.

The Hammers almost had the advantage just ten minutes into the fixture as Leanne Mabey saw a headed effort crash back off the cross-bar.

A physical, end-to-end match saw both sides contest for every ball in the centre, and Whyteleafe thought they had taken the lead when a lofted ball went just over Sindi Kanto’s goal.

Ellie Zoepfl then saw a powerful strike on the right side well saved, but the Irons took a one-goal lead in at the break thanks to Rosie Kmita, who fired in at the near post.

Chloe Burr almost doubled the lead prior to half-time, forcing a terrific save, but from the resulting corner Zoepfl was on hand to nod in West Ham’s second.

The second period began in the exact same vein as the first as Mabey one again came close, this time getting on the end of a well-timed free-kick, which was saved.

Zoepfl then tested the Whyteleafe shot-stopper again after a terrific run, and the striker had a huge part in the third following a sensational diagonal pass to her from Mabey, with Zoepfl squaring for Burr to tuck home.

Goalkeeper Kanto had little to do but produced an excellent save when called upon, before substitute Georgiou swept home for West Ham’s fourth.

West Ham United: Kanto; Mackie, Wheeler, Auguste, M Kmita; Mabey, Chong (Georgiou 55’), Stobbs; Burr (Locke 69’), Zoepfl (Dunning 81’), R Kmita

Subs not used: Lancaster

Goals: R Kmita 40’, Elloe Zoepfl 45’, Chloe Burr 64’, Andria Georgiou 85’