Bristol City 1-2 West Ham United women's team
Barclays Women's Super League, Ashton Gate, Sunday 28 January 2024, 2pm GMT.
West Ham United women’s team secured their first Barclays Women’s Super League victory since October on Sunday, beating Bristol City 2-1 at Ashton Gate.
Honoka Hayashi got Rehanne Skinner’s side off to the perfect start when she drilled home from the edge of the area on 13 minutes.
Former West Ham United forward Amalie Thestrup would strike against her old club just after half time to bring the game level after Ffion Morgan had cut the ball across the box.
However, the Irons were aggressive in their attacking play, allowing Jess Ziu and Viviane Asseyi to combine, with the latter showing brilliant composure to slot beyond Shea Yanez.
In an end-to-end contest, it was those in blue that came out on top, as the Hammers headed back to London with three vital points.
Bristol City had the game’s first opportunity with less than two minutes gone. Danish forward Thestrup connected well with a corner kick delivered in by Jamie-Lee Napier, but from close range didn’t force Mackenzie Arnold into action and flew over.
On ten minutes, a brilliant cross from Kirsty Smith found Riko Ueki, but the forward couldn’t get anything meaningful on the ball in, and the effort trickled into the path of Yanez.
The Irons broke the deadlock three minutes later, as a scramble in the box saw the ball fall out to Honoka Hayashi, who drove a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to put Rehanne Skinner’s team in front.
Katrina Gorry was everywhere in the opening 45 minutes at Ashton Gate, and almost added a second with a fierce effort from range, but it flew over the top.
It was an electric start to the second half, with Shelina Zadorsky initially thinking she’d put her side 2-0 up, only for her strike to be ruled out of offside. From the resulting free-kick, the home side countered with substitute Morgan beating Kirsty Smith and cutting the ball back for Thestrup to tap home.
The Hammers responded to the setback eight minutes later, as good play from Gorry and Ziu saw Asseyi released in behind, with the forward showing fantastic composure to slot the ball beyond Yanez and restore the lead.
Skinner’s side battled for control of every blade of grass at Ashton Gate, putting their bodies on the line as they blocked efforts from the home side as the clock continued to count up.
And 2-1 would be how it would stay, as the Hammers held firm through the 11 minutes of added on time, picking up a vital three points, their first of the calendar year.
Bristol City: Yanez, Powell, Connolly (c), Struck, Murray (Evans 37), Napier, Ward (Morgan 46), Rogers, Jones (Stratigakis 88), Harrison (Syme 74), Thestrup (Hayles 87).
Unused Subs: Clark, Aspin, Bull, Slocombe.
Goal: Thestrup 48
Yellow Card: Connolly
West Ham United: Arnold (c), Shimizu, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Smith, Hayashi, Gorry (Cooke 90+11), Ziu (Ademiluyi 77), Harries (Mewis 70), Ueki, Asseyi.
Unused Subs: Walsh, O’Hanlon, Denton, Snerle, Flannery.
Goals: Hayashi 13, Asseyi 56
Yellow Card: Harries, Shimizu, Smith
Referee: Lauren Impey
Attendance: 6214
