West Ham Women have secured their first win in the WSL after what has felt like the longest season. The teams hard work and dedication has paid off in their last away game of this season.
Anouk Dentons strike gave the Hammers the opener whilst captain Dagny Brynjarsdottir fired home her 6th goal of the season and secured the team their 3 points.
West Ham manager Paul Konchesky spoke to the West Ham Official Website after the game, and he explained how happy he was for the players and the staff. “I am over the moon, especially for my players and my staff. It has been a long time coming but I think it was fully deserved. We have been in games and we haven’t won. But to pick up three points is massive for us.”
The ex West Ham defender became manager at the start of the 2022/23 season, and at the start, the team looked promising. However, from December things seemed to not click and the teams form was poor, leading to them not having a win for 5 months in the WSL. Despite this, Konchesky explained that the team stuck together and seemed determined to win some points before the end of the season.
“I think when you have won games and football matches for a long time you can go under.” he added. “But I have a good team, a good group of players, and they work for each other, the staff included. That togetherness is big and that was shown today. We haven’t won for a long time but we stick together and dig points out.”
The performance from the girls was much better and they looked to be back to their form in December. But Konchesky especially praised his defence and goalkeeper for their performance.
“I think the defence were were fantastic, my goalkeeper included.” Konchesky said. “But for me, it was the whole eleven, the players on the bench as well. It goes a long way being a close group, so whoever plays and whoever is on the side, we are in it together and that goes for everyone.”
With the last home game for the ladies coming up on Saturday, with a London derby against Tottenham, the win this week will give the team some confidence going forward.
“It is massive being able to take three points into a derby against our rivals as well next week.” he told whufc.com “To take them three points and that morale, that winning feeling, that buzz, to take that into one of our biggest games is massive and hopefully we can continue this winning run on.
The Hammers now sit 8th in the table and are safe from relegation, and hopefully this win will give them the momentum they need to finish the season with a good result. Konchesky was definitely full of praise for his team and the important 3 points were well deserved.
“It was always going to be tough but we are over the moon to get the three points,” stated the manager.
“To beat a good Leicester City team who are fighting for lives and have a manager who has done a fantastic job since he has come in, is something we should be really proud of.”
Written by Katie Vine
