West Ham Women claimed a crucial win over Bristol City to hope a change of fortunes this season may be realised.

The WSL’s bottom two clubs met at Ashton Gate yesterday, with more than 6,000 in attendance. Both sides went into the game having won one of their opening 11 WSL matches this season.

The Hammer’s found an early breakthrough 13 minutes in, Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi drilled a fine finish low into the bottom corner from just outside the 18 yard box. Bristol City equalised three minutes into the second half, with Amalie Thestrup, who spent last season on loan at West Ham, firing home for The Robins to make it 1-1.
Viviane Asseyi restored West Ham’s lead in the 55th minute. The French forward scored her fourth WSL goal of the season, a cool finish off the outside of her right foot going through the legs of the Bristol City goalkeeper.

Following a lengthy 11 minutes of second half injury time, Asseyi’s goal secured all three points for the Hammers after eight league matches without a win. West Ham’s women are now three points clear of yesterday’s opponents Bristol City who are sat bottom of the table on five points.

Manager Rehanne Skinner was delighted with the result. The 2-1 win sealed her side’s first three points of 2024. Speaking to the club’s website after the game, Skinner said: “We took the two goals superbly, to be fair. It’s just great for the team and staff, with all of the hard work that everyone has been putting in, to get the three points over the line is massive.”

She went on to add: “We want to keep improving on our results, we don’t want to be in the position that we’re in. We’re taking things one step at a time and one game at a time. That’s all we can do and we’ll keep chipping away with the aim of climbing the table.”

West Ham’s attention will now turn to their next fixture, at home against 3rd placed Arsenal this Sunday, kick off at the Chigwell Construction Stadium is at 12:30pm.

Written by Finlay Jackson