West Ham Ladies came out on top in a seven-goal thriller against Portsmouth Ladies on Sunday.
The FA Women’s Premier League Southern division encounter between two promotion chasing sides ended 4-3 to the Hammers. West Ham now sit second in the league but only two points (and with a game in hand) behind league leaders Colchester United Ladies.
West Ham owner and chairman David Gold watched the game between second and third in the league and he witnessed a fantastic spectacle. The home side took the lead in the seventh minute thanks to Carly Roache but Portsmouth responded only ten minutes later when Gemma Hillier beat Nikki Duncan in the Hammers’ goal.
In an open game and great exhibition of women’s football Roache nearly added a second before West Ham did take the lead again, Jess Barling’s free-kick beating the Portsmouth keeper with the help of a deflection.
The away side thought they had equalised again but were denied by the linesman’s flag and West Ham capatilised by adding a third before half-time. Gemma Shepherd was fouled in the box and stepped up to convert the resulting penalty herself.
Despite trailing 3-1 at half-time Portsmouth started the second period brightly, the linesman’s flag and Hammers’ keeper Duncan keeping the away side at bay until the hour mark. Jemma Tewkesbury’s well-taken free kick gave Portsmouth a route back into the game.
Becky Merritt’s close range finish late on looked to have finally sealed the points for West Ham before an even later converted Portsmouth penalty meant that the nerves continued until the final whistle went.
The next game for the Hammers is an away trip to mid-table Queens Park Rangers Ladies. Elsewhere in the league Gillingham Ladies beat Keynsham Town Ladies 2-1, Tottenham Hotspur Ladies won 2-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion Ladies and leaders Colchester hit five past bottom side Millwall Lionesses.
