West Ham United women’s team forward Seraina Piubel was pleased with the amount of chances her side created in their 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.
The Hammers responded well to falling behind after five minutes at Chigwell Construction Stadium, as Shekiera Martinez nodded home her tenth goal of the campaign before Riko Ueki pounced to make it 2-1 to the hosts.
However, Rachel Daly’s first-time finish pulled Villa back level before Chasity Grant slotted a 54th-minute winner past Kinga Szemik in the Irons goal.
No77 Piubel played all 90 minutes in east London at the weekend, the first time she has played a full WSL match in nearly two months, and was quick to praise the effort levels from her team in their narrow loss to the Villains.
“It’s disappointing,” she reflected. “I think we had a lot of chances, and we didn’t take them, but I think it was a tough game, and there was a lot of hard work from everyone.
“I think the second goal was not their (Aston Villa’s) own goal, we gave them a present, but we came back, and I think at 2-2, it was a 50-50 game.
“I think a draw would be fair, but that's football. It's hard sometimes, but I think we’ve had some good games at home and also away, so I think the fans are proud of us."
Aston Villa spoiled the party in what was the Hammers’ final home match of the season. In Dagenham this term, Rehanne Skinner’s side have recorded the most points and most wins at home in a single WSL season in the Club's seven-year history in the competition - and the fans have been there every step of the way.
Following Sunday’s game, the players showed their appreciation to the supporters in a lap of honour, and Piubel expressed how key they have been to the Irons’ success this campaign.
She said: “I love it (playing at Chigwell Construction Stadium), and I'm really looking forward to the next season with the fans again. They’ve been the 12th woman on the pitch for us this season, so it was a nice moment with them after the game.
“In the end, it's not nice (to lose), but we go into the next game and will be looking to end the season with a victory [against Leicester City] and put the disappointment from today behind us.”
