Stobbs double earns Ladies win against Chichester City

Stobbs

 

A brace from captain Amber Stobbs saw West Ham United Ladies continue their unbeaten start to 2018 with a 2-0 win over Chichester City.

 

The No10 added to her tally with an excellent strike from distance on 22 minutes, putting the Irons into the lead at half-time.

 

Striker Kelly Wealthall also hit the cross-bar with a headed effort, before Chichester had a goal correctly ruled out for offside.

 

Some excellent defending in the second period kept the away side at bay, and with the seconds ticking down Stobbs claimed her second as the ball rolled in after striking the post.

 

The Hammers began the contest on the front foot and looked to take the lead early on, with Ellie Zoepfl coming close twice in the opening ten minutes.

 

Debutant Molly Clark looked for a finish from distance, before Stobbs put wide while under pressure after a fantastic flick from Wealthall.

 

Wealthall would then hit the cross-bar with a header, while the forward and Zoepfl both saw efforts spectacularly saved.

 

But captain Stobbs once again found the net from distance, receiving the ball and striking an exquisite effort into the top corner midway through the first period.,

 

A fine stop also denied Andria Georgiou a second goal in two games as the Irons enjoyed an impressive 45 minutes.

 

Goalkeeper Cara Connatser, also making her Hammers debut, was largely a bystander but claimed well when called into action after an hour.

 

Rosie Kmita curled an effort just wide of the near post before Zoepfl linked up with Wealthall again. Having scored twice last weekend, the young striker would have been disappointed not to put away the chance.

 

On 84 minutes, it appeared for a moment that West Ham’s hard-work has been undone, as Chichester found the net. However, the linesman correctly ruled the goal out for offside.

 

And, with just a few moments to play, Stobbs claimed her second goal, with her shot rolling over the line and into the back of the net.

 

West Ham United Ladies: Connatser; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin, Mabey (Auguste 74’); Georgiou (Burr 87’), Clark, Stobbs (c); Zoepfl, Wealthall, R Kmita

 

Substitutes: Auguste, Chong, Burr, Peters, M Kmita

 

Goals: Stobbs 22’, 90+1’

 

Chichester City Ladies: Cheshire; Ingram, Alexandre (c), Taylor, Tash, Fowlic, Bloomfield, Collighan, Tucker, Barron

 

Substitutes: Walford, Paul, Phelps, Shine