West Ham United women’s team manager Rehanne Skinner and players Shekiera Martinez and Viviane Asseyi have been nominated for the Barclays Women’s Super League’s monthly awards for April.
Skinner, who this week penned a contract extension at the Club, is up for Manager of the Month.
After her side held third-place Manchester United to a goalless draw at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Saturday 19 April, the 45-year-old guided the women’s team to their biggest-ever WSL victory, which came in the form of a 7-1 thrashing of hosting Crystal Palace on Sunday 27 April.
The three points against the Eagles extended the Hammers’ unbeaten run to five matches in the WSL, which is the longest in the Club’s history.
Skinner, who was also nominated for the WSL’s Manager of the Month accolade for March, is up against Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor and Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo for the award.
Four of the seven goals at the VBS Community Stadium were scored by Martinez, who has been nominated for the WSL’s Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards.
The Germany U23 international, who faces competition from Brighton’s Michelle Agyemang, Manchester City’s Kerstin Casparij, and Aston Villa duo Chasity Grant and Kirsty Hanson for the Player of the Month award, was faultless at the VBS Community Stadium, as she became the first player in the Club’s history to net four times in a WSL fixture - and they were four well-taken goals.
However, the one that caught the eye the most, which is up for the accolade, is her second of the afternoon, which came in the 42nd minute. Following a brilliant counter-attack involving Asseyi and Katrina Gorry, Martinez cut in on her left foot and curled her effort into the far left corner - a collector’s item.
The 24-year-old is not the only Hammer up for the Goal of the Month award, as she is joined by fellow forward Asseyi after her stunning lob from range against Crystal Palace.
The France international had just assisted Martinez’s fourth of the afternoon when she picked the ball up in her own half. With plenty of green space ahead of her, she charged down the left flank before getting her head up and sensing an opportunity. Intelligently, cheekily, but with aplomb, Asseyi pulled off a stunning chipped finish from midway inside the Palace half to make it five on the day.
Asseyi and Martinez are up against Villa’s Hanson, Chelsea’s Catarina Macario, Everton’s Katja Snoeijs and Manchester City’s Jess Park.
You can vote for Rehanne to win Manager of the Month by clicking HERE, Shekiera to win Player of the Month by clicking HERE, and Vivi and Shekiera to win Goal of the Month by clicking HERE!
Voting closes at 12noon on Saturday 3 May.
