West Ham United women’s team duo Verena Hanshaw and Shekiera Martinez cut delighted figures following our first victory of the Barclays Women’s Super League season.
Rehanne Skinner’s side saw off Everton 3-1 at Chigwell Construction Stadium in a game that we dominated from start to finish, limiting our opponents to few sights at goal.
After Viviane Asseyi, Martinez and Shelina Zadorsky all went close, Anouk Denton broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when her near-post strike crept past Toffees goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.
We soon made it two before the break as Amber Tysiak rose highest to convert Asseyi’s corner before Martinez remained calm and composed inside the area nine minutes after the restart to notch our third - her fourth in her last four matches and sixth goal in all competitions.
Hanshaw was restored to the starting XI to face Everton in Dagenham, her first league start since our game against Brighton & Hove Albion in September, and she was magnificent throughout.
Getting up and down the left flank in her wing-back role, our No29 was unfortunate not to get herself in on the act as she hit the woodwork twice - striking the base of the post from outside the box before she almost scored directly from a corner, only to see her cross hit the upright.
But the Austria international, who played all 90 minutes in east London, didn’t mind not getting on the scoresheet as her side recorded three points in the WSL.
“I think it just wasn’t my day today [in front of goal] but it doesn’t matter!” she said. “We won the game. I would have been happy to score a goal, but it’s not the most important thing today. I’m happy with three points.
“I think you saw in our faces how important the win was today. We’re really happy.
“I think it’s a massive relief [to get the first win of the season]. We’ve worked really hard over the last weeks. We’ve gotten better and better, we felt it in the team and with this win today, it’s really important.”
Player of the Match Martinez echoed her teammates’ happiness in chalking up three points against the Toffees. Her strike on Sunday followed a brilliant brace against Southampton in the Subway® Women's League Cup in midweek and her goal against Leicester City last weekend.
The Germany U23 international has now scored 12 league goals in 2025, the most in the WSL.
“I love scoring goals,” she said. “I’m really happy and also really happy for the win. I’m really happy with the ball Riko [Ueki] played [for my goal]. It was perfect. The defenders went to the ground quickly, so I just had to chip it over them.
“I’m really thankful [to get the Player of the Match award]. People ask me if I keep it. Of course I keep it!
“We’re really happy and we felt the vibe before the game - it was perfect. It’s really nice to win games and be in the huddle after the game. We’re all proud of each other.”
