The West Ham United women's team celebrated back-to-back victories after defeating Everton 2-0 at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday. A stellar performance from Rehanne Skinner's squad culminated in goals from Shekiera Martinez and Viviane Assseyi, securing their first three Barclays Women’s Super League points of the calendar year.
Shekiera Martinez, who made her first start for the Irons, opened the scoring with just nine minutes on the clock. She directed Viviane Assseyi’s corner kick past the Everton goalkeeper with a precise header, putting West Ham on the front foot early. Martinez's goal underscored the Hammers' solid attacking intentions as they aimed for another strong showing at home.
The home crowd had to wait until the end of the first half for the Hammers’ second goal. The breakthrough came when Seraina Piubel was brought down inside the area by Everton’s Sara Holmgaard. Assseyi stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted the ball home, enhancing West Ham's lead just before half-time. Despite Everton's efforts, they failed to respond effectively after the break, finishing the match without finding the net.
Speaking after the match, manager Rehanne Skinner expressed her delight with her team's performance from start to finish. "I thought we performed fantastically. We were coming here to get the three points, and I thought the players performed fantastically from the first whistle. We created loads of opportunities and played some great football," she stated, reflecting on the team's progress and cohesion on the pitch.
Skinner highlighted the improvement of the attacking quartet as they continue to develop their play together. She noted, "Every game the attack are getting... and obviously, the bench is strong, so there are opportunities for change to add value. But collectively, across the board, I thought everybody did a great job." This sense of unity and evolution within the team is encouraging as they look to maintain momentum for the rest of the season.
Another significant aspect of the match was the team’s defensive strength, culminating in their first league clean sheet since early November. Skinner praised new signing Verena Hanshaw, who made her debut, for her contributions to this achievement. "We’re obviously trying to keep working on the quality of the squad, and we’ve had two players come in this window who have just been absolutely superb for us straight away," Skinner remarked, signaling her satisfaction with how quickly Hanshaw has adapted to the team dynamics.
When discussing the team's resilience following their recent loss to Chelsea, Skinner emphasized the competitive spirit among her players. "Our response to the Chelsea defeat has been superb. The players were so competitive. I think we did a great job [in the first half]. Collectively, we’re wanting to be all the time, and that's obviously really pleasing," she commented, illustrating the mentality shift within the group as they move forward.
With their eyes set on upcoming challenges, Skinner mentioned the importance of consistency. Looking forward to the next match against Chelsea and the FA Cup, she stated, "We won’t be taking anything for granted... it's worth mentioning, especially on Wednesday night in the FA Cup, we could get ourselves in the fifth round." Her forward-thinking mindset indicates the ambition and drive of the team as they strive for success.
Overall, the victory against Everton not only boosts West Ham’s confidence but also sets a positive tone for the challenges ahead. The blend of new talent and seasoned players, along with Skinner’s tactical acumen, presents the squad with several optimistic paths as they work to continue their winning streak and build on this successful performance.