A disappointing first half at the Academy Stadium cost West Ham United dearly as the side fell 5-0 to Manchester City.
A clinical spell by the home team saw Georgia Stanway net twice and Lauren Hemp score in a seven-minute spell which, added to Ellen White’s eleventh-minute opener, put City in control at half-time.
Tessa Wullaert got a fifth for City just a few minutes into the second period, while the Irons tested Ellie Roebuck through Leanne Kiernan and Alisha Lehmann late on.
City ended the match with ten players after Georgia Stanway was sent off for two yellow cards.
West Ham headed up to the Academy Stadium knowing they played a Manchester City side who were coming into the match on the back of their first Barclays FA Women’s Super League defeat of the season last time out, and Nick Cushing’s side were eager to return to winning ways.
Matt Beard’s side started brightly but, with just 11 minutes on the clock, City opened the scoring. A corner kick was met, and blocked on the line, but White was on hand to clinically smash home from close range.
The Irons needed to weather the City storm as the home side continued to press. Anna Moorhouse was called into action, punching away a narrow effort before diving well to stop Steph Houghton’s goal-bound free-kick.
A quick transition however, and City had their second on 32 minutes. Stanway was fed the ball on the edge of the area and powered home past Moorhouse.
Five minutes later, Stanway had her second and City’s third. A long ball forwarded evaded the defence and was fed back to City’s No10 on the edge of the area. Her shot struck the bottom of the post and found the goal.
Lauren Hemp scored moments later, making it 4-0 and giving the Hammers a mountain to climb in the second period.
With eight minutes played in the second period, City added their fifth. Wullaert was fed the ball by Stanway and calmly slotted home, putting the game completely out of West Ham’s reach.
Leanne Kiernan tested Ellie Roebuck with a low effort, after stealing to possession, but the City shot-stopper made a decent save to deny the Ireland international.
With just under 20 minutes on the clock City’s Stanway was given her marching orders after a second yellow card for a foul on Adriana Leon.
The additional space allowed the Hammers more opportunities, with Alisha Lehmann seeing a low effort saved and substitute Wiktoria Kiszkis testing Roebuck as well, but the contest had been finalised long before, with City taking all three points.
Manchester City: Roebuck, Beckie, Houghton (c), Bonner, Stokes (Campbell 46’), Scott (Bremer 62), Weir, Wullaert, Stanway, Hemp (Toland 75), White
Subs not used: Benameur, Park, Geum-Min, Fidalgo
Goals: White 11, Stanway 32’ 37, Hemp 39, Wullaert 53
Red Card: Stanway 71
West Ham United: Moorhouse; Redisch Kvamme, Flaherty (c), Vetterlein, Baunach: Middag (Hendrix 65), Longhurst, Dali; Lehmann, Leon (Kiszkis 90), Kiernan (Galabadaarachchi 61)
Subs not used: Brosnan,
Attendance: 2,179