On a gloriously sunny afternoon at Kingsmeadow a late, late goal from Shekiera Martiez ensured that the derby day spoils were shared as West Ham came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. The final match in the Barclays Women’s Super League before the international break pit West Ham against Chelsea, a side the visitors had never beaten in the WSL with Chelsea having won eleven times in a row against the Hammers.
Chelsea came into this one off the back of a breath-taking victory in the UEFA Women’s Champions League where the blues secured a place in the last four. Sonia Bompastor shuffled the pack after that comeback victory making seven changes from the side that started on Thursday night. Aggie Beever-Jones and Oriane Jean-François both came into the starting eleven after both came off the bench on Thursday. Also introduced was Niamh Charles, Maika Hamano, Ashley Lawrence, Catarina Macario and Sjoeke Nüsken also came into the starting line-up. Charles was celebrated prior to kick off after making 150 appearances for the club. Star names like Lauren James, Sandy Baltimore, Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh were some of the names rested on the bench.
Despite West Ham having their best ever season at home in the WSL, the Hammers came into this one with the worst away record in the league having picked up just a single point on the road this season. However that does not tell the full story, narrow defeats at Brighton, Arsenal and Spurs could have easily gone the other way.
West Ham beat Spurs in their last WSL match last Sunday, the 2-0 victory helped the Hammers to leapfrog their opponents in the league table. The Hammers made just one change from that team as Manuela Paví was benched for the more defensive Li Mengwen.
The Line ups:
CHE: Hampton, Lawrence, Bright, Björn, Charles, Jean-François, Nüsken, Cuthbert, Hamano, Macario, Beever-Jones
WHU: Szemik, Denton, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Mengwen, Hanshaw, Siren, Gorry, Martinez, Asseyi, Ueki
The Action:
The home side began on the front foot with efforts from Macario and Hamano missing the target but the blues intent was clear. Shekiera Martinez and Verena Hanshaw combined well early on to pressure Chelsea on the right side of their defence but determined defending from Erin Cuthbert tracking back turned over possession for the home side.
Chelsea felt they should have had a penalty just after the ten minute mark after a cross from Lawrence seemingly hit the arm of Asseyi. However, before the 20 minute mark Chelsea had their breakthrough, a cross into the box was cushioned down by Lawrence on the back post to Hamano who took the ball and turning inside the box fired past Kinga Szemik in between the West Ham posts, 1-0 to Chelsea.
Just after the 20 minute mark Chelsea had doubled their lead. After a mistouch in defence on the edge of the box Beever-Jones bore down upon the West Ham goal picking her spot: the bottom corner. Following a brief respite for West Ham as Szemik was treated for an injury, the Hammers had their best spell of the match so far with a couple of set piece opportunities that ultimately came to nothing.
West Ham lost their captain with ten minutes to play of the first half after the Australian Katrina Gorry could no longer continue, former captain Dagný Brynjarsdóttir came on. Shortly after Cuthbert Scythed through the West Ham defence before her wicked strike was magnificently tapped onto the bar by Szemik. Brynjarsdóttir was showing good vision in the midfield as West Ham looked to bounce back against the odds. And they did so by way of a magnificent ball from Riko Ueki which found Shekiera Martinez who chested the ball before blasting it past Hampton to half the arrears on the day.
West Ham were doing well to try to keep the momentum moving in their favour, Brynjarsdóttir was again involved as her deflected shot was easily caught by Hampton after the sting had been removed from it by an outstretched Chelsea leg. A late first half header from Nüsken demonstrated the danger still posed by the home side after she directed the ball just wide.
The second half began in rather pedestrian fashion with both sides sizing each other up after each made half time changes. The half was lit up by a magnificent piece of skill from Hamano whose touch found a way past Tysiak before her cross was whiskers away from meeting the forehead of Beever-Jones.
West Ham were not giving up and they peppered the Chelsea goal from a corner kick with just over 25 minutes to play. Chelsea returned the favour after a through ball from Nüsken found Lauren James in the box but her effort was straight at West Ham’s Polish shot stopper. James seemed in the mood, moments later, her imaginative chipped effort on the left side of the box shaved the top of the crossbar with Szemik a mere passenger.
The impressive Hanshaw took aim with just under 15 minutes to play from outside the box, forcing a wonderful save from Hannah Hampton who tipped her effort over the bar. Seraina Piubel also had a couple of shots blocked with five minutes to play as West Ham searched for a leveller. West Ham would find the leveller in the 92nd minute, a marvellous ball into the box from Kirsty Smith found the head of Martinez to stun the home faithful and secure a famous point for West Ham in the derby.
Chelsea Player Ratings
Hannah Hampton – 7/10 – The Lionesses keeper had precious little to do in the first half of one but did what was asked of her well. She could do very little to stop West Ham’s goal and stayed sharp when she was called upon, she made an excellent save to deny West Ham an equaliser.
Ashley Lawrence – 7/10 – Her cushioned header for the opening goal was unselfish and expertly executed picked up an unnecessary yellow card in the second half.
Nathalie Björn – 7/10 – Another commanding performance from the Swede whose game seems to have reached another level since Naomi Girma arrived on these shores…
Millie Bright – 6/10 – Had some uncharacteristically nervy touches early on and did not seem comfortable when defending Martinez. Bright was subbed at half time almost certainly to rest her after a busy period.
Niamh Charles – 7/10 – Did what was required of her when called upon in both defence and attack, she reads the game well and was positive on the front foot and alert to danger.
Oriane Jean-François – 7/10 – Made some positive interceptions in the midfield, mistimed a couple of passes but grew in confidence as the match wore on.
Sjoeke Nüsken– 7/10 – The German was finding space in the box in the early stages and was lively in the Hammers final third.
Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – A dogged all action performance from the Scot was one we are accustomed to. Cuthbert was subbed at half time to be rested.
Maika Hamano– 8/10 – Took her goal well, it was a composed finish from a maturing young player. Made some excellent attacking runs and demonstrated expert close control.
Caterina Macario – 7/10 – Macario’s early pressure on Shelina Zadorsky forced her to mistime her header and helped Chelsea to get at the West Ham back line for the first time. Always looked to get involved in the action but today there was a cutting edge missing from her game today.
Aggie Beever Jones – 8/10 – Her driving runs from deep were extremely impressive, her offensive positioning was perfect for her goal, only matched by the quality of the finish.
Substitutes:
Weike Kaptein – 46′ replaced Erin Cuthbert
Lucy Bronze – 46′ replaced Millie Bright
Lauren James – 67′ replaced Aggie Beever-Jones
Mia Fischel – 67′ replaced Maika Hamano
Keira Walsh – 81′ replaced Sjoeke Nüsken
West Ham United Player Ratings
Kinga Szemik – 7/10 – Got a hand to Chelsea’s opener and perhaps will feel she could have done better. Made a save of the season contender to deny Cuthbert Chelsea’s third before half time.
Verena Hanshaw – 7/10 – Linked up well with Martinez in attack, positioned herself well when West Ham came forward. Her physicality helped West Ham against one of the more imposing sides in the division. Almost equalised with a vicious drive.
Amber Tysiak – 7/10 – Defended with heart and tenancy against the best team in the country.
Shelina Zadorsky – 7/10 – Looked quite nervous early on, almost got her goalkeeper into trouble with a poor backpass before the 10 minute mark. She settled into the game especially after receiving the captain’s armband after Gorry had to be withdrawn.
Li Mengwen – 7/10 – Performed well coming into the line up to act as a third centre back.
Anouk Denton – 6/10 – Made a great sliding challenge on Cuthbert early on to stifle the Chelsea attack. Denton was substituted at half time with the reasoning unclear.
Oona Siren – 8/10 – So often there to clean up for the visitors with seemingly endless energy. It was a brilliant midfield battle.
Kartina Gorry – 6/10 – Had to come off with an injury on the 35 minute mark, was struggling to play the game she wanted to play in midfield
Viviane Asseyi – 7/10 – Struggled to get involved in the match and affect the match in her side’s favour, uncharacteristically quiet. Showed heart in the closing stages to push her team onward.
Shekiera Martinez – 9/10 – Back tracked well a number of times, her thumping finish means she has now scored away at both the top two. She scored a brace late on to give West Ham a vital and well earned point.
Riko Ueki – 8/10 – A magnificent off balance ball into the box gave West Ham the chance for a goal back which Martinez took.
Substitutes:
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir (35′ replaced Katrina Gorry)
Kirsty Smith (46′ replaced Anouk Denton)
Seraina Piubel (74′ replaced Riko Ueki)
Manuela Paví (74′ replaced Shelina Zadorsky)
Eva Nyström (74′ replaced Li Mengwen)
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Shekiera Martinez
The German epitomises everything good about a Rehanne Skinner side, tenancity, talent and skill. Her brace made sure that West Ham made the most of the chances they had an. It was an incredible performance from her, surely one of the best signings of the season.
