West Ham United Women extend unbeaten run to five games with Conti Cup win over London City Lionesses


West Ham United Women extended their unbeaten run to five matches, as they beat London City Lionesses 0-1 in their opening Conti Cup Group stage match. 

Lucy Parker got the Hammers off the mark with 15 minutes gone, as she followed in after a free kick was saved to give her side the lead.

And that was enough for the east Londoners to claim victory in Kent. 

Olli Harder elected to rotate his side, making five changes from the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon. 

Anna Leat made her first competitive appearance in goal for the Hammers, whilst Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Lucy Parker, Mel Filis and Lois Joel also came into the Starting XI for the game against the FA Championship outfit.

The Hammers started the match on the front foot, with Lois Joel almost finding the bottom corner of the net within the first minute, but the cross from deep whistled across goal and away. 

Hasegawa whipped in a free-kick that caused Yanez in the London City goal some issue, but the onrushing players in Claret and Blue couldn’t capitalise and covert from close range. 

It wasn’t long before the Hammers made the early pressure count. Lucy Parker was alive to a save in the penalty area after Katerina Svitkova had got a touch on Hasegawa’s free-kick – the centre half was composed and found the net from close range with 15 minutes gone. 

London City rallied after going behind, but still couldn’t fashion a chance that would test Leat in the Irons goal. 

Mel Filis went close to adding a second with 30 minutes gone, but the shot smashed off the post and bounced behind. 

The home side went close on a number of occasions before the break, but the Claret & Blue defence stood firm and lead at the break. 

The hosts continued to look for a way back into the contest, testing Leat twice, but on both occasions, the New Zealand international was equal to the efforts. 

It was then the Hammers who went close, with Tameka Yallop heading just wide from Hasegawa dinked ball into the penalty area. 

It was a real contest in the second half, with both sides looking to counter in behind and struggling to have any dominant spells of possession. 

But the Hammers were able to weather anything the home side threw at them, and stretched their unbeaten run to five matches!

West Ham United: Leat, Wyne, Flaherty, Cissoko, Parker (Longhurst 70), Joel (Evans 61), Stringer, Filis, Yallop (Brynjarsdottir 84), Hasegawa, Svitkova (Leon 61). 

Unused Substitutes: Arnold, Walker, Cairns. 

Goals: Parker 15, 

Bookings: Parker 36, Cissoko 90

London City Lionesses: Yanez, Girasoli (Pursey 72), Rodgers, Jarrett (Rossiter 75), Napier, Rouse, Bennett, Muya, Fronc (Fitzgerald 75), Primus, Nunn.  

Unused Substitutes: Neville, Mehmet, Gray, Thompson. 
 

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