West Ham United Ladies 0-0 C&K Basildon Ladies
West Ham Ladies earned their first point of the season after a hard-fought goalless draw against high flying C&K Basildon Ladies on Wednesday night.
The last meeting between the two sides ended with a flourish of red cards after both teams finished the game with nine players, but there was to be no repeat of bad behaviour as each side set out to let their football do the talking under the lights at Purfleet.
C&K Basildon Ladies dominated the first half but could not find a way through the Hammers’ well organised defence, and in-form keeper Deger Zekai who made some excellent saves.
She first denied Rushen and before then foiling Sinclair, whose shot looked to have crossed the line before Zekai scooped it away at full stretch.
West Ham rarely ventured into the opposition’s half and were limited to long hopeful balls to Whitney Locke. Sasha Kelly, Kat Clifton and skipper Karen Ray worked tirelessly in midfield to keep Basildon Ladies at bay.
The second half saw C&K Basildon Ladies begin to run out of ideas and they were restricted to long range efforts as the well-drilled West Ham defence stood firm still.
Katie Bottom, on her return from India, was a class act in the centre of defence, aided and abetted by Hannah Wheeler.
At the final whistle, Basildon Ladies were left to rue their missed opportunities which could have seen them top the league, while the West Ham Ladies celebrated as one as if they had won.
It was a victory of sorts; their first point on the board.
Manager James Marrs was full of praise for his players after the match but still admitted there is work to do.
“We are still couple of months away from attaining the fitness levels we demand to play the pressing game,” he said. “But we’re heading in the right direction.”
West Ham Ladies: Zekai, Bent, Simmons, Ray, Wheeler, Bottom, Mackie, Clifton, Locke, Kelly, Burr.
Substitutes: Sumpter, Bennett, Wilson, Miller.