Ffion Morgan, Leila Wandeler and Sarah Brasero got their first competitive goals for West Ham on Wednesday night, as the Irons beat Charlton 5-1 at The Valley.
The opening night of the Subway Women’s League Cup saw the top of the WSL 2 welcome the bottom of the WSL to The Valley. While Charlton were unbeaten in the second tier, the Irons’ had yet to avoid defeat this term. It was set to be an intriguing early season encounter between two sides whose paths are more likely to cross with increasing frequency in the coming years, for better or worse.
Both sides shuffled their packs for the encounter. Karen Hills made seven changes from the side that dropped their first points of the season at home to newly promoted Ipswich Town. Captain Kiera Skeels remained in the line up as did Gracie Pearse, Charlotte Newsham and Mia Ross.
Rehanne Skinner made 10 changes from the side that lost 4-1 to Brighton on Sunday. Only Hungary international and Spurs loanee Anna Csiki kept her place.
The Line ups
CHA: Pedersen; Newsham, Lobato, Skeels, Pearse; Fitzgerald Ross, Bradley, McAteer; Kenny, Siber
WHU: Walsh; Belloumou, Cemal, Tysiak, Endo; Csiki, Houssein, Wandeler, Brasero; Pieubel, Morgan
The Action
On a picturesque evening in south London, West Ham started the brighter of the two sides. Their fluid formation was making them difficult to keep track of in attack. The first opportunity of any merit came through those rotating attackers. Ffion Morgan and Seraina Piubel combined just inside the box with the latter guiding her shot just wide.
With 15 minutes gone the Irons were rewarded for their attacking endeavour. A corner whipped into the box was initially cleared but Halle Houssein recycled possession finding her Welsh team mate. Morgan took the ball down on her right foot and with one fell swing of her boot connected perfectly with the bouncing ball sending it sailing into the back of Anna Pedersen’s net. The visitors had the breakthrough and Morgan had her first competitive goal for the Irons.
With a quarter of the match gone, Charlton should have levelled with a wonderful bit of interplay on the right side. A stylish backheel from Gillian Kelly gave Mary McAteer space on the edge of the box, her disguised pass slipped Charlotte Newsham in on goal. If not for heroics in goal from Megan Walsh who saved brilliantly down to her right, the scores would have been level.
Newsham tested Walsh again shortly after. The full back, driving in behind the West Ham backline, cut inside and out. Another smart save from Walsh followed. The Addicks were growing into the match and as the half wore on were forcing mistakes from a rotated starting Irons eleven.
As the match approached half time West Ham nearly doubled their lead. A brilliant mazy run into the box from Morgan found Piubel in space on the six yard box. The Swiss forward snatched at it and could only direct her effort wide of the upright.
Once the second half kicked off both sides made half time changes. Manuela Paví was introduced for the visitors and her class showed. Before the 50th minute she had doubled her side’s lead. Taking the ball on the edge of the box, the Colombian fired a speculative effort from range towards the Charlton goal and found the top corner.
Charlton were handed a lifeline not five minutes later when Kenny was brought down inside the box. Katie Bradley stepped up but her effort down to the keeper’s left was magnificently saved onto the post. Unluckily for Walsh, the ball bounced off the post and back into Bradley’s path. Charlton’s number seven did not repeat her mistake and halved the arrears for her side with the goal empty.
The visitor’s advantage was restored when Leila Wandeler took the ball on the left side. The Swiss starlet cut inside onto her right foot struck an unstoppable effort into the top corner. West Ham threatened to extend their lead but excellent defensive play from Lucia Lobato denied Shekiera Martinez.
With 82 minutes on the clock West Ham sealed victory. New signing and England youth international Sarah Brasero burst into the box beating multiple onlooking Charlton defenders before firing home brilliantly past Pedersen in goal for Charlton. With just minutes remaining Martinez added the extras breaking a couple of challenges before scoring her first of the season and West Ham’s fifth of the evening.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Ffion Morgan
The Welsh striker was a constant threat for the away side and took her goal wonderfully well. Morgan was always looking to set up chances for her team mates in the Iron’s front line, her endeavour can never be in doubt.
