West Ham United women’s team v Aston Villa
Barclays Women's Super League, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Saturday 19 April 2025, 12pm BST
What has been a history-making campaign at Chigwell Construction Stadium will come to a close on Sunday, as West Ham United women’s team host Aston Villa in their final home match of the Barclays Women’s Super League Season.
Rehanne Skinner’s side have recorded the most points and most wins at home in a single Women's Super League season in the club's seven-year history in the competition, and they will be targeting one final push when Villa visit east London at the weekend.
There’s being buoyed by a win and then there’s coming off the back of your biggest-ever WSL win, as the Hammers beat Crystal Palace 7-1 last time out, courtesy of four goals from Shekiera Martinez, a late brace from substitute Emma Harries and a stunning Viviane Asseyi lob in between.
After a series of positive performances against the top four, Skinner wanted to see how her side would use that confidence against teams in and around them, and they more than delivered at the VBS Community Stadium in Sutton.
Although Aston Villa currently sit ninth in the WSL standings, they got the better of the Irons in the reverse fixture back in December, providing even more fuel for Skinner’s team to avenge that result.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of our final meeting in London of the season.
Tickets...
Tickets are still available to purchase online by clicking HERE! Secure your seat for our final home match of the campaign from £5 for U18s and £15 for Adults.
Or, call the Ticket Office on 0333 030 1966.
How To Follow…
We will be streaming our WSL match at home to Aston Villa on our YouTube channel!
Alternatively, you can also keep up-to-date via a live blog on our website and app, and across our social media channels, while highlights and exclusive reaction will follow after the final whistle on whufc.com.
Travel…
The most convenient way to reach Chigwell Construction Stadium is by public transport.
Dagenham East station on the London Underground's District line is situated about 500 metres from the ground. On exiting the station, turn left, and the ground is in Victoria Road, which is the fifth turning on the left-hand side after about 400 metres. You will see the stadium at the end of the cul-de-sac.
For those travelling by bus, fans can take the 103 from either Romford railway station, which is served by Greater Anglia, TfL's Elizabeth line, and London Overground, or Rainham station, which is served by c2c rail services. The 103 has stops on both sides of Rainham Road South, just north of Victoria Road.
Supporters using public transport are advised to check their journeys before they travel, using resources such as TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go app. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website if travelling on the rail network.
No parking is available at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Street parking in the local area is available, but motorists should take note of restrictions.
Opposition…
For a brief period of this Barclays Women’s Super League season, there was a slight worry that Aston Villa might get dragged into the relegation picture. Following the turn of the year, the Villains went on a seven-match winless run and were in desperate need of three points to spark some momentum into the team.
Away to Liverpool, on Sunday 30 March, with a three-week break looming, Villa were drawing 1-1 with the Reds in the 87th minute. Something had to give - and in the dying stages, a winner came via an own-goal from Liverpool defender Jenna Clark. The visitors held on to a crucial 2-1 success at St Helens Stadium.
Following the international break, Natalia Arroyo’s side left it late again and, in even more dramatic circumstances, found a 3-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur. Having relinquished a two-goal lead in the capital, substitute Kirsty Hanson came up with the goods to record back-to-back victories for Villa, and provide breathing space between themselves and the drop.
And in stunning fashion, Villa, on Wednesday night, defeated second-place Arsenal 5-2 courtesy of a brace from Chasity Grant and goals from Jordan Nobbs, Hanson and Rachel Daly.
Away from the league, Villa reached the quarter-finals of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup this term, courtesy of a 9-0 hammering of visiting Bristol Rovers which was followed by a dramatic 3-2 win over Brighton. However, they fell short in the last eight away at Manchester City, who ran out 2-0 winners.
This is Villa’s fifth season in the WSL, having been promoted to England’s top flight, for the first time since 2004, in 2019/20. Their highest finish from those five campaigns came in 2022/23, when they finished fifth with eleven wins from their 22 matches.
Arroyo is the third manager in the Villa dugout this season, as Robert de Pauw departed the Club in December, which resulted in former Manchester City striker Shaun Goater taking interim charge.
The 39-year-old was appointed Villa manager in January from Real Sociedad, and is currently riding the crest of a three-match winning run. The former Barcelona player spent four seasons with Sociedad, achieving a second-place finish in her second campaign in charge, qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League in the process. She also led them to a place in the Copa de la Reina final at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Previous Meetings…
Aston Villa got the better of the Hammers in the reverse fixture as they claimed a 3-1 victory at Villa Park in December. Viviane Asseyi cancelled out Adriana Leon's early opener, but the 32-year-old put the hosts back in front on the stroke of half-time. As much as the Irons pushed for a leveller, Kenza Dali added a third seven minutes from time.
In fact, Villa are unbeaten in five matches against the Hammers, with our last win against them coming in October 2022 when early goals from Dagný Brynjarsdóttir and Honoka Hayashi ensured Dali's 77th-minute strike was just a consolation.
Both teams have won three matches each, while five of the eleven meetings have resulted in draws.
