West Ham United Ladies fell to a 3-0 defeat to Forest Green Rovers on Sunday
West Ham United Ladies suffered a bad day at the office as they were beaten 3-0 by Forest Green Rovers at AFC Hornchurch on Sunday afternoon.
In the first half, Forest Green exploded into a three goal lead with just over half an hour on the clock through Jordan Guard’s free kick, Kirsty Richardson’s penalty and Ella Hitchcox’s well taken finish.
Ladies manager Marc Nurse was forced into making one change from the starting eleven that beat local rivals C&K Basildon 3-2 away from home earlier in the week.
Captain Stacey Little was the only change as she completes a one match ban for being sent off earlier this season, with former Millwall Lionesses youth defender Hannah Wheeler stepping in as a replacement.
After suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat away to Forest Green just a number of weeks ago, the Hammers got off to the worst possible start when Guard’s free kick found its way through a crowded penalty area and into the corner of Aditi Chauhan’s net.
Just minutes later, Chauhan made a fantastic save from Hitchcox to ensure the hosts didn’t fall to an early 2-0 deficit.
West Ham did have chances of their own in the early stages of the first half and they were trying to pull themselves level when Shirvae Edwards’ shot was turned round the post by visiting goalkeeper Abbie Morrisey.
Forest Green did get their second goal shortly after though when Kerry Stimson committed a foul inside the penalty area, allowing Richardson to step up and cooly slot home to double Rovers’ lead.
It went from bad to worse for Nurse’s side on 35 minutes when Hitchcox cleverly beat the offside trap to get herself in behind the Hammers defence and fire in a third goal for the visitors.
West Ham needed some inspiration and Nurse introduced skilful Development Squad midfielder Gemma Abela in place of Georgia Miller.
After the break Nurse’s squad looked determined to turn the game around and they came close when Emma Sherwood’s shot was smothered well by Morrisey.
Another change for the Hammers saw speedy forward Whitney Locke replace Edwards on the wing and she instantly got to work putting the Rovers full backs under pressure with her pace.
In a much better half for the Hammers, they were again denied a consolation goal when Italian midfielder Giulia Ferrandi cut in from the right and fired a shot at Morrisey.
With around ten minutes left to play, another Development Squad regular Olivia Sammons was brought on to replace Kelley Blanchflower in the middle, but the game fizzled out and Rovers secured an impressive 3-0 victory.
West Ham Ladies will want to forget their double defeat to Rovers and aim for victory on Wednesday 30 September when they travel to lower league Burgess Hill Town Ladies in the Ryman Cup First Round.
Ladies: Chauhan, Bottom, Wheeler, Stimson, Xidhas, Ferrandi, Miller (Abela), Blanchflower (Sammons), Edwards (Locke), Pinna, Sherwood. Subs not used: Sillitoe, Campesi.
In the first half, Forest Green exploded into a three goal lead with just over half an hour on the clock through Jordan Guard’s free kick, Kirsty Richardson’s penalty and Ella Hitchcox’s well taken finish.
Ladies manager Marc Nurse was forced into making one change from the starting eleven that beat local rivals C&K Basildon 3-2 away from home earlier in the week.
Captain Stacey Little was the only change as she completes a one match ban for being sent off earlier this season, with former Millwall Lionesses youth defender Hannah Wheeler stepping in as a replacement.
After suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat away to Forest Green just a number of weeks ago, the Hammers got off to the worst possible start when Guard’s free kick found its way through a crowded penalty area and into the corner of Aditi Chauhan’s net.
Just minutes later, Chauhan made a fantastic save from Hitchcox to ensure the hosts didn’t fall to an early 2-0 deficit.
West Ham did have chances of their own in the early stages of the first half and they were trying to pull themselves level when Shirvae Edwards’ shot was turned round the post by visiting goalkeeper Abbie Morrisey.
Forest Green did get their second goal shortly after though when Kerry Stimson committed a foul inside the penalty area, allowing Richardson to step up and cooly slot home to double Rovers’ lead.
It went from bad to worse for Nurse’s side on 35 minutes when Hitchcox cleverly beat the offside trap to get herself in behind the Hammers defence and fire in a third goal for the visitors.
West Ham needed some inspiration and Nurse introduced skilful Development Squad midfielder Gemma Abela in place of Georgia Miller.
After the break Nurse’s squad looked determined to turn the game around and they came close when Emma Sherwood’s shot was smothered well by Morrisey.
Another change for the Hammers saw speedy forward Whitney Locke replace Edwards on the wing and she instantly got to work putting the Rovers full backs under pressure with her pace.
In a much better half for the Hammers, they were again denied a consolation goal when Italian midfielder Giulia Ferrandi cut in from the right and fired a shot at Morrisey.
With around ten minutes left to play, another Development Squad regular Olivia Sammons was brought on to replace Kelley Blanchflower in the middle, but the game fizzled out and Rovers secured an impressive 3-0 victory.
West Ham Ladies will want to forget their double defeat to Rovers and aim for victory on Wednesday 30 September when they travel to lower league Burgess Hill Town Ladies in the Ryman Cup First Round.
Ladies: Chauhan, Bottom, Wheeler, Stimson, Xidhas, Ferrandi, Miller (Abela), Blanchflower (Sammons), Edwards (Locke), Pinna, Sherwood. Subs not used: Sillitoe, Campesi.