West Ham Women’s manager Rehanne Skinner was full of pride after her side came back from two goals down to secure a point away against WSL leaders Chelsea. 

The Hammers did not start the game well. Conceding twice just five minutes apart saw them 2-0 down after 21 minutes. Shekiera Martinez fired home late in the first half making it 2-1 and giving the Hammers a lifeline going into half time.

Growing into the game after the break, West Ham created a number of chances testing Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton. The Hammers hard work paid off, Shekeira Martinez scored her second of the game in the 91st minute. The German met Kirsty Smith’s excellent cross at the back post and headed the ball into the far corner securing Rehanne Skinner’s side a point.

West Ham have become the only side to pick up a point against Chelsea at Kingsmeadow in the WSL this season. They did so on a special day for Hammers boss Skinner with it being her 50th game in charge of the club.

Speaking after the game, Skinner said: “We’re just playing well, and we’ve got multiple people who can score goals. At the end of the game, Amber (Tysiak) was playing as our right centre half, and she was in the final third, finding through balls in the last few minutes. That’s how much we want to win games, and that kind of sums up the quality and character within the team.”

The Hammers boss went on to add: “We have been playing well, and it amounts to a massive point in the game that nobody would have expected us to have got today, except for us, because we had the belief that we’d be able to get something.”

In a season where Chelsea remain unbeaten in the league, becoming the first side to take a point off them at home is an impressive achievement for West Ham Women’s players and manager Rehanne Skinner. Coming back from two goals down highlights the resilience and belief within this West Ham side.

West Ham are in great form of late. Scoring three against Arsenal in a seven goal thriller, scoring a last minute equaliser against Man City, beating Tottenham in a London derby, and now coming from behind to draw against league leaders Chelsea. Rehanne Skinner’s side have shown they can go toe to toe with the very best.

The Hammers will be full of confidence and have every reason to believe they can finish the season on a high as they head into their final four league games.