WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
2023-24 Women's Super League
Manager: Rehanne Skinner
West Ham United Women will enter their sixth season in the Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) under the stewardship of an experienced new manager.
Rehanne Skinner was appointed as the Club's new manager on 20 July 2023, becoming the Irons' first female manager since earning Women's Super League status in 2018. Skinner arrives with nearly 20 years experience working within the women's game including a three-year spell at the Football Association, where she coached England's U19, U20 and U21 development teams and then was assistant coach for the Lionesses.
MANCHESTER CITY
Chigwell Construction Stadium
0 - 2
1 October 2023
Arnold
Smith
Cooke
Cissoko
Shimizu
Evans
Stringer (Denton)
Filis (Flannery)
Hayashi
Asseyi
Ueki (Harrires)
West Ham United women’s team battled hard, but were ultimately beaten by Manchester City at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
The Hammers battled well in their first competitive home fixture since May, and limited visitors Man City to very little in the first half. However, after Riko Ueki went close with an effort that Khiara Keating got down well to deny, Lauren Hemp opened the scoring with a sweetly struck strike.
Two minutes later and Shannon Cooke was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area when blocking Chloe Kelly’s shot. The Lionesses forward stepped up from the spot, but was expertly denied by Mackenzie Arnold, who got down well to her left to save on 49 minutes.
Jill Roord would mark her debut with a goal, slotting the ball home on 55 minutes to extend the lead. Leila Ouahabi was then sent off for a challenge on Emma Harries, which allowed Rehanne Skinner’s team to push further forward as they looked to get back into the contest.
However, they couldn’t find a goal as they fell to defeat, despite a spirited performance in their opening fixture of the new season.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Broadfield Stadium
2 - 0 (Smith, Ueki)
8 October 2023
Arnold
Smith (Harries)
Cissoko
Cooke
Shimizu
Denton (Atkinson)
Hayashi
Stringer (Filis)
Evans
Ueki (Ademiluyi)
Asseyi
West Ham United women’s team picked up their first points of the season in a battling 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon at Broadfield Stadium. Kirsty Smith scored her first goal for the Club on 12 minutes, after Riko Ueki’s strike had been tipped onto the post by Brighton’s Sophie Baggaley.
After half-time, Riko Ueki added a second, her first for the Club since joining from Tokyo Beleza in the summer – nodding a flighted free-kick from Lisa Evans home on 52 minutes. The Irons saw the game out, picking up a first win under Rehanne Skinner in an impressive performance.
CONTINENTAL TYRES LEAGUE CUP
The 2023–24 FA Women's League Cup was the thirteenth edition of the Women's Super League and Women's Championship's league cup competition. It was sponsored by Continental AG, who have sponsored the competition since its creation in 2011, and was officially known as the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup for sponsorship reasons. All 24 teams from the WSL and Championship contested the competition. Arsenal were the defending champions. The competition kept the same format as the previous season, starting with a group stage split regionally.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC : Continental Tyres Cup
Chigwell Construction Stadium
2 - 1 (Atkinson, Harries)
11 October 2023
Walsh
Smith (Atkinson)
Shimizu
Cissoko
Cooke
Denton
Flannery
Filis (Stringer)
Asseyi (Evans)
Ademiluyi (Ueki)
Harries
West Ham United women’s team came from behind to start their Continental Tyres League Cup campaign with a victory, beating Charlton Athletic 2-1 at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Carla Humphrey opened the scoring on 20 minutes, squeezing the ball beyond Megan Walsh to give the Addicks an early lead.
The Hammers rallied in the second half, with Emma Harries notching her first goal in Claret and Blue just before the hour mark when she stabbed the ball home.
In wet and windy conditions, the Hammers found a way to come out with the points and make a winning start to Group E, as Izzy Atkinson unleashed a superb strike after driving into space to put them ahead.
CHELSEA
Kingsmeadow
0 - 2
14 October 2023
Arnold
Smith
Cooke
Cissoko (Tysiak)
Denton
Evans
Stringer
Hayashi
Asseyi
Harris (Atkinson)Ueki
The Hammers made a promising start to the game in west London, as they created opportunities through Emma Harries and Viviane Asseyi.
However, champions Chelsea took the lead after 37 minutes when Sam Kerr headed a Niamh Charles cross beyond Mackenzie Arnold to give them the advantage at the break.
Lauren James missed a golden chance to make it two just after the hour mark, whilst Rehanne Skinner’s side looked to get back into the game.
In a battling performance, the Irons couldn’t find a goal, and Erin Cuthbert would add a second for the Blues late on to seal the game.
LIVERPOOL
Chigwell Construction Stadium
1 - 1 (Ueki)
22 October 2023
Arnold
Denton (Flannery)
Smith
Cissoko
Cooke
Evans (Atkinson)
Shimizu
Hayashi
Asseyi
Ueki
Harries (Filis)
West Ham United women’s team scored a late second half goal to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in their final Barclays Women’s Super League fixture before the October international break.
A second half strike from Marie Hobinger was the difference on a sunny afternoon at Chigwell Construction Stadium, as the away side also struck the crossbar twice, either side of half time.
Rehanne Skinner’s Irons improved in the second half, and it took until the final minute of stoppage time for them to find an equaliser, as Riko Ueki stabbed the ball home from close range after a scramble in the box.
BRISTOL CITY
Chigwell Construction Stadium
2 - 3 (Asseyi [pen], Ueki)
5 November 2023
Arnold
Smith
Cissoko
Cooke
Denton (Ziu)
Hayashi (Stringer)
Shimizu
Evans
Atkinson (Ademilyui)
Ueki (Filis)
Asseyi
West Ham United women’s team were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Bristol City. Things started well for the Irons at Chigwell Construction Stadium, as Izzy Atkinson’s shot was blocked by the hand of Megan Connolly, allowing Viviane Asseyi to step up and convert from the penalty spot after 27 minutes had been played.
However, the away side rallied and found themselves almost immediately level, with former forward Amalie Thestrup heading home. The Robins then turned the game on its head on 37 minutes, with Ella Powell reacting quickest to a save from Mackenzie Arnold to smash the ball home and put the away side ahead.
However, that wouldn’t be the last action of the first half, as Riko Ueki notched her third goal in West Ham colours, finding space and drilling a strike into the bottom corner.
Bristol City edged in front after half time, with Brooke Aspin heading home from a free-kick on 55 minutes. And that would prove to be the final goal in the contest, as the Hammers slipped to a narrow defeat.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Leigh Sports Village Stadium
0 - 5
12 November 2023
Arnold
Shimizu
Tysiak
Cissoko (Cooke)
Smith
Denton
Hayashi (Filis)
Stringer
Evans (Atkinson)
Ueki
Asseyi (Harries)
West Ham United women’s team fell to a 5-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League. After only three minutes, the home side opened the scoring through Geyse, who headed in beyond Mackenzie Arnold from close range.
Millie Turner added a second with a curling effort on 42 minutes, before Nikita Parris made it three in first half stoppage time, converting from close range. It was a much improved performance from the Hammers in the second half, but United substitute Lucía García would add a fourth, and her fellow substitute, Melvine Malard would add the fifth and final goal of the afternoon as the Irons failed to clear their lines.
ASTON VILLA
Chigwell Construction Stadium
2 - 3 (Asseyi, Evans)
19 November 2023
Arnold
Shimizu
Tysiak
Cooke
Cissoko
Smith
Stringer
Filis
Harries (Evans)
Asseyi
Ueki
West Ham United women’s team were beaten by a last-gasp Rachel Daly goal, as Aston Villa ran out 3-2 winners at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Former Hammer Daly scored the eventual winner in the 92nd minute of a contest in which the Hammers had dominated for certain spells.
Viviane Asseyi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after another former Hammer, Adriana Leon had brought down Kirsty Smith. However, three minutes later, Anna Patten headed in from a set piece to bring the game level heading into half time.
Leon got on the scoresheet as the home side failed to deal with another set piece. Patten won a flick on that fell into the path of the Canadian, who fired home.
Lisa Evans entered the field and scored a sensational goal to bring the tie back level on 80 minutes. Her half-volley nestled in the top corner to set up a ferocious end to the game
However, it would be the Villans that would go home with all three points, as Daly found the back the net with only minutes to spare with a superb effort.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : Continental Tyres Cup
Broadfield Stadium
1 - 3 (Cissoko)
22 November 2023
Walsh
Shimizu
Stapleton (Ziu)
Cooke
Tysiak (Cissoko)
Denton
Stringer
Flannery (Filis)
Atkinson
Asseyi (Evans)
Ademiluyi (Ueki)
West Ham United women’s team were beaten 3-1 by Brighton & Hove Albion in their second Continental Tyres League Cup group stage fixture.
The home side opened the scoring just before half time, as a corner kick wasn’t cleared away, allowing Guro Bergsvand to bundle the ball in from close range.
After the break, Vicky Losada scored from the penalty spot after Shannon Cooke had brought down Veatriki Sarri inside the area.
Then, Sarri added a third, again from the spot. Jessie Stapleton was the offender this time, as she took down Tatiana Pinto in the box.
Hawa Cissoko was able to pull a goal back late on, but the Hammers would ultimately fall to defeat at Broadfield Stadium
ARSENAL
Meadow Park
0 - 3
26 November 2023
Walsh
Evans
Shimizu
Tysiak
Cissoko
Smith
Stringer
Hayashi (Filis)
Harries (Ziu)
Asseyi (Atkinson)
Ueki
West Ham United women’s team were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal, in what was their final Barclays Women’s Super League fixture before the upcoming international break.
Frida Maanum opened the scoring after only two minutes at Meadow Park, before Beth Mead added a brace for herself, all inside the first half. Viviane Asseyi hit the woodwork in either half, as, particularly in the second 45, where the Hammers improved, kept the ball well but couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Arsenal backline.
Izzy Atkinson had the best opportunity of the game, but she couldn’t keep her effort down in the closing stages as the Irons slipped to defeat but showed great industry and character as they fought for a way back.
EVERTON
Chigwell Construction Stadium
0 - 1
10 December 2023
Walsh
Evans (Harries)
Shimizu
Cissoko
Tysiak (Cooke)
Smith
Stringer
Hayashi (Filis)
Ziu (Atkinson)
Asseyi
Ueki
West Ham United women’s team were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Everton in their final home fixture of 2023.
Karen Holmgaard's header from a corner on 63 minutes would prove to be the difference at Chigwell Construction Stadium, as the Hammers could not find a way past an inspired Courtney Brosnan.
Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi were both denied on several occasions by the Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper as the Hammers controlled proceedings for much of the game. However, they could not find a way back into the contest, and slipped to defeat.
LEICESTER CITY
King Power Stadium
1 - 1 (Hayashi)
Date
Walsh
Smith
Shimizu
Cissoko
Cooke
Denton (Snerle) (Stapleton)
Hayashi
Stringer (Filis)
Asseyi
Ziu (Harries)
Ueki (Ademiluyi)
West Ham United women’s team salvaged a draw late on against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday. After bossing proceedings for most of the match in Leicestershire, a breakaway from the Foxes saw Lena Petermann squeeze the ball in at the near post on 68 minutes.
Before that, Jess Ziu, Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi had all spurned opportunities, whilst Emma Harries also saw an effort denied late on. And after Hawa Cissoko was sent off for a second bookable offence, it looked as though the Hammers might not find a way back into the game. However, in the dying embers, Honoka Hayashi was able to bundle the ball home to share the points.
CHELSEA : FA Cup (Fourth Round)
Kingsmeadow
1 - 3 (Asseyi) aet
14 January 2024
Arnold
Smith
Cooke (Ademiluyi)
Tysiak
Zadorsky
Shimizu
Hayashi
Gorry (Denton)
Snerle (Ziu)
Asseyi
Ueki (Harries)
West Ham United women's team forced Chelsea into extra time in their Adobe Women's FA Cup fourth round tie, but were ultimately on the losing side after a battling display.
Viviane Asseyi got the away side off to a fantastic start in the winter sunshine at Kingsmeadow, latching onto a long ball from Mackenzie Arnold to fire beyond Zecira Musovic.
Rehanne Skinner’s team defended resolutely throughout the first 70 minutes of the game, and it took a moment of quality from forward Mia Fishel to find the equaliser, with the substitute swivelling and firing into the net.
In extra time, the Barclays Women’s Super League and FA Cup champions showed their class, finding goals through Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones as they booked their place in the fifth round of the competition.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Chigwell Construction Stadium
3 - 4 (Asseyi, Shimizu, Tysiak)
21 January 2024
Arnold
Shmizu
Tysiak
Cissoko (Harries)
Cooke (Denton)
Smith
Hayashi (Ziu)
Gorry
Snerle (Mewis)
Ueki
Asseyi
West Ham United women’s team were on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller at Chigwell Construction Stadium, as Tottenham Hotspur ran out 4-3 winners.
The home side went a goal down early on, as Grace Clinton fired in from the edge of the area after only six minutes. The response from the Hammers was good, as Risa Shimizu slid in and brought them level after a spell of good pressure. Celin Bizet would put Spurs back ahead just before the break though, as the away side broke away and took advantage of the Irons being without Katrina Gorry on the field of play after treatment.
Spurs’ third was even more controversial, as a player in Blue looked to be impeding the view of Mackenzie Arnold when Clinton found the net with her second. Likely feeling hard done by, the Hammers rallied, with Asseyi turning in on 63 minutes after confusion between goalkeeper and defender allowed her to tap home. Then, Amber Tysiak made it all square, heading in superbly after substitute Kristie Mewis had floated a free kick into the area. In a game that had so many twists and turns, Spurs would land the final blow, with Jessica Naz’s scuffed effort creeping into the bottom corner 15 minutes from time.
BIRMINGHAM CITY : Continental Tyres league Cup
St Andrew's
1 - 2 (Ueki)
24 January 2024
Arnold
Smith
Cooke (Harries)
Cissoko
Shimizu
Denton (Ademiluyi)
Stringer (Tysiak)
Hayashi
Snerle (Ziu)
Asseyi
Ueki
West Ham United women’s team were beaten 2-1 by Birmingham City in their final Continental Tyres League Cup group stage fixture.
Lily Agg headed in from close range on 18 minutes, before Martha Harris scored from outside the area after half-time to put the Blues two ahead.
The Hammers were presented with opportunities in the Midlands, but often found themselves lacking in the final third.
Riko Ueki was able to find the back of the net late on, but the Hammers ultimately fell to defeat on a disappointing evening.
The result sees West Ham eliminated from the competition, having finished third in Group E with one win and two losses.
BRISTOL CITY
Ashton Gate
2 - 1 (Asseyi, Hayashi)
28 January 2024
Arnold
Shimizu
Tysiak
Zadorski
Smith
Hayashi
Gorry (Cooke)
Ziu (Ademiluyi)
Harries (Mewis)
UekiAsseyi
West Ham United women’s team secured their first Barclays Women’s Super League victory since October, 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.
ARSENAL
Chigwell Construction Stadium
2 - 1 (Asseyi [pen], Cissoko)
4 February 2024
Arnold
Smith
Shimizu
Tysiak
Ueki (Ademiluyi)
Zadorsky
Ziu (Snerle)
Hayashi (Lundin)
Asseyi
Gorry
Cissoko (Cooke)
West Ham United women’s team secured an historic first Barclays Women's Super League victory over Arsenal, beating the Gunners 2-1 at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Alessia Russo opened the scoring for the visitors just before half time, but the Irons turned things around in the second half when Viviane Asseyi slotted in from the spot and Hawa Cissoko emphatically finished to spark huge celebrations.
EVERTON
Walton Hall Park
0 - 2
18 February 2024
Arnold
Smith
Tysiak
Cissoko (Mewis)
Zadorsky
Shimizu
Hayashi (Bergman-Lundin)
Gorry
Ziu (Ademiluyi)
Asseyi
Ueki (Snerle)
West Ham United women’s team were beaten late on by Everton, losing 2-0 at Walton Hall Park.
It was the Toffees' Italian duo that did the damage with minutes of normal time remaining in the match.
Just as the game looked as though it was going to fizzle out and end in a stalemate, the home side sneaked in front with seven minutes of normal time remaining. A floated ball into the area found the head of Piemonte, who looped a header over Arnold and into the back of the net.
Three minutes later, and Brian Sørensen’s team had doubled their lead. Galli was afforded space on the edge of the West Ham box, and she arrowed a strike into the top corner to seal the victory for the home side.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Chigwell Construction Stadium
1 - 1 (Asseyi)
3 March 2024
Arnold
Smith
Tysiak
Denton (Cooke)
Cissoko
Shimizu
Hayashi
Gorry (Bergman-Lundin)
Ziu (Snerle)
AsseyiUeki
West Ham United women’s team earned a deserved draw with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, in what was their first Barclays Women’s Super League fixture after the international break.
After only four minutes, the away side opened the scoring through Rachel Williams, who finished emphatically beyond Mackenzie Arnold from the edge of the box.
There was nothing to separate the sides throughout and the Hammers could not find a way past Mary Earps and Manchester United’s stubborn rearguard.
But the Irons, who were not without chances of their own, got their just rewards after 85 minutes through Viviane Asseyi’s well-taken effort.
However, as both sides looked to have settled for a point, the Irons had to survive a major scare in injury time. A mix-up in midfield seen the ball fly back towards an empty net but Williams, with the goal at her mercy, somehow fired wide of the target.
LIVERPOOL
Prenton Park
1 - 3 (ueki)
17 March 2024
Arnold
Shimizu
Tysiak
Cissoko (Cooke)
Zadorsky
Smith
Hayashi (Bergman-Lundin)
Gorry (Ademiluyi)
Snerle (Ziu)
Asseyi
Ueki (Harries)
West Ham United women's team were on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.
The home side took the lead before half time when former West Ham United forward Leanne Kiernan slotted into an empty net after Ceri Holland caught Arnold whilst playing the ball through.
Missy Bo Kearns made it two just after half time when she ran across the face of goal and headed into the bottom corner. Sophie Roman Haug then netted a third at the far post, before Riko Ueki scored what would only go down as a consultation goal late on as the Hammers fell to defeat on Merseyside.
CHELSEA
Chigwell Construction Stadium
0 - 2
24 March 2024
Arnold
Denton (Cissoko)
Shimizu
Zadorsky
Tysiak
Smith
Hayashi
Gorry (Bergman-Lundin)
Ziu (Snerle)
Ueki
Asseyi (Harries)
West Ham United were unfortunate to fall to a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea. After Viviane Asseyi headed West Ham’s first attack wide, the Blues took the lead inside two minutes when Aggie Beever-Jones found the bottom left corner, although the Hammers were unlucky not to level the match before the break.
Buoyed on a successive crowd of over 3,500 in Dagenham, left wing-back Kirsty Smith struck wide from six yards out, while Honoka Hayashi, and most in attendance, were left bemused when she was adjudged offside after poking home from inside the area.
Riko Ueki hit the bar from 25 yards out, while Chelsea and Beever-Jones might have had a second had West Ham skipper Mackenzie Arnold not been quickly off her line to sweep up the danger.
A well-drilled back three of Risa Shimizu, Shelina Zadorsky, and Amber Tysiak continued to frustrate Chelsea after the break, as the attacking trio of Jess Ziu, Ueki, and Asseyi also led the charge for the equaliser. Ueki went close on the counter-attack and forced a neat save from Chelsea goalkeeper Hampton – albeit from an offside position – while Asseyi’s whipped free-kick clipped the roof of the net. Chelsea though would grab a second when second-half substitute Erin Cuthbert’s found the roof the net with a stunning swing of her right foot on the edge of the area on 88 minutes.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Chigwell Construction Stadium
0 - 0
31 March 2024
Arnold
Smith
Tysiak
Shimizu
Zadorsky
Denton (Cooke)
Hayashi
Snerle (Ziu)
Harries (Ademiluyi)
Ueki
Asseyi
West Ham United women’s team were held to a 0-0 draw as the two sides played out a hard-fought contest in east London on Easter Sunday.
A fragmented first half never really got going as both sides cancelled each other out in a clash that carried all the hallmarks of a potential season-defining clash.
It was a cagey opening 45 minutes with very little in the way of clear-cut chances. A defensive lapse almost allowed the visitors to go ahead inside one minute when Li Mengwen’s cross from the right evaded everyone before coming to Elisabeth Terland, but her goalbound shot was brilliantly blocked by Amber Tysiak.
West Ham finished the first half strongly as they began to gain a foothold in the game. Emma Snerle’s long-range effort was gathered by Sophie Baggaley, before Riko Ueki headed wide from a good position after getting on the end of an Anouk Denton cross.
As both sides looked content with a point, Terland almost snatched the points in stoppage time for the visitors when her deflected effort struck the post before being heroically steered to safety.
MANCHESTER CITY
Joie Stadium
0 - 5
21 April 2024
Arnold
Smith
Cissoko
Zadorsky
Tysiak
Denton (Cooke)
Shimizu
Hayashi (Bergman-Lundin)
Ueki
Ziu (Harries)
Asseyi
West Ham United women’s team fell to a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Manchester City at Joie Stadium on Sunday afternoon. A fast start saw City score twice inside four minutes, with Leila Ouahabi and Bunny Shaw firing home emphatically to give them the advantage as the Irons came out of the blocks slowly on their travels.
Shaw added her second and her team’s third inside the first 30 minutes as the Irons struggled to deal with Gareth Taylor’s City in wide areas. The Hammers went close when Viviane Asseyi saw an effort well saved by Khiara Keating, while the French forward and Riko Ueki both saw efforts cannon off the woodwork.
West Ham were much improved in the second half, but it would be Manchester City that would add goals four and five before the game came to an end, with Laura Blindkilde Brown and Jess Park dealing the final blows on a disappointing day.
ASTON VILLA
Villa Park
1 - 1 (Cooke)
28 April 2024
Arnold
Smith
Cissoko
Tysiak
Zadorsky (Cooke)
Ziu (Denton)
Shimizu
Snerle
Hayashi (Ademiluyi)
Ueki
Asseyi
West Ham United women’s team left it late to secure a valuable point at Aston Villa that will all but preserve their Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) status for next season.
The hosts' former Hammers forward Alisha Lehmann came off the substitutes' bench to flick in a cross in from Kirsty Hanson and put the hosts ahead with 18 minutes to play, and that looked to be how the game would finish at Villa Park.
Having fallen behind the Hammers threw players forward and piled on the pressure late on. Eventually, that pressure paid off as they equalised deep into added-time.
Substitute Cooke climbed highest to head home her first goal for the Club and grab a well deserved point at Villa Park.
Bottom club Bristol City now need to win their final three matches to overhaul the Hammers and send them down, having won just one of their first 19 WSL games.
LEICESTER CITY
Chigwell Construction Stadium
1 - 1 (Ueki)
5 May 2024
Arnold
Smith
Cissoko
Tysiak
Shimizu
Denton (Zadorsky)
Hayashi (Bergman-Lundin)
Snerle (Harries)
Ziu (Cooke)
Ueki (Ademiluyi)
Asseyi
West Ham United women’s team rounded off their final home game of the Barclays Women’s Super League campaign with a hard-fought point against Leicester City at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
West Ham started on the front foot with an effort from Denton forcing a diving save from visiting goalkeeper Janina Leitzig and the Irons’ dominance soon prevailed as they took a deserved early lead through Ueki’s powerful finish, after a strong run forward by fellow Japan international Honoka Hayashi down the right.
And Skinner’s side were made to pay for their profligacy when Rantala’s corner was met by Howard, who headed beyond Arnold at the front post.
As both sides pushed for a winner, the Hammers had to survive a major scare late on, as the visitors crashed another effort off the crossbar, but battled right until the end to earn a hard-fought point.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
1 - 3 (Ueki)
18 May 2024
Arnold
Smith
Cissoko (Cooke)
Tysiak
Denton
Shimizu
Hayashi (Bergman-Lundin)
Ziu (Ademiluyi)
Asseyi
Harries (Snerle)
Ueki
West Ham United women’s team concluded their Barclays Women’s Super League campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in north London.
A fast start saw the hosts take the lead after four minutes when Mackenzie Arnold spilled a cross from former Hammer Martha Thomas and Bethany England capitalised with a close-range finish.
The Irons looked a different proposition after the break, however, and their improvement was rewarded with the equaliser after 50 minutes in stunning fashion. Honoka Hayashi, who went close to levelling just moments earlier, slipped Ueki down the wing and her right-footed shot across goal from an almost impossible angle arrowed into the far corner.
The points looked destined to be shared until Tottenham regained their lead on 85 minutes through Jessica Naz, who collected a well-weighted ball on the right, evaded multiple challenges in the area and picked out the bottom left corner.
Skinner’s side rallied and pushed for a late leveller, with Amber Tysiak and Risa Shimizu going close, but the hosts sealed victory with a well-taken strike from Drew Spence in the dying embers, as the Hammers ended their Women’s Super League season with a hard-fought defeat to their London rivals.
