Two goals from Paige Anderson-James, including a sensational long-ranged finish, helped West Ham United Ladies get back to winning ways with a deserved 5-0 defeat of Swindon Town.
Dominant from the opening whistle, the Hammers were two goals ahead at half-time as Hannah Wheeler and Molly Peters scored after defensive lapses by the away side.
Anderson-James made it three from close range in the second period before stunning the Rush Green crowd with a brilliant rocket from distance.
Substitute Kelly Wealthall finished the game with a composed run and finish, capping a fantastic showing by Greg De Carnys’s side.
West Ham had Amber Stobbs back from injury for this match and the No10 had the first two meaningful efforts of the game, striking efforts from distance that went just over and was well saved, respectively.
It was Wheeler that opened the scoring for the Hammers on 18 minutes. A Stobbs free-kick caused havoc in the Swindon area, from which the defender gratefully stabbed home into an empty net.
Peters made it two just after the half hour mark. The striker’s pace had caused Swindon problems already and she once again got away from the defenders, latching on to a clever long-ball by Chloe Burr and delightfully curling past the goalkeeper.
Debutant Rosie Kmita came close to making it three with a powerful strike which rattled the bar, while Anderson-James created a number of opportunities thanks to her impressive runs into space and pinpoint crossing.
The striker’s performance was deserving of a goal and that’s exactly what Anderson-James got in the second period. The No12 found the net with a low effort just after the hour to put the home team three goals ahead and in complete control.
The moment of the match came just a few minutes later as Anderson-James turned with the ball from 25 yards, before unleashing an unstoppable rocket which found the top corner, much to the delight of the crowd at Rush Green.
There was no time to celebrate Anderson-James’s brilliant finish though as the Hammers had their fifth only moments later. Substitute Wealthall rounded the goalkeeper to tuck into an empty net.
Anderson-James came close to completing a second-half hat-trick as another effort struck the woodwork, while Wealthall, Stobbs and Burr also saw shots test Swindon before the end of the contest.
West Ham United Ladies: Rowlands; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin, Auguste; Cooper, Burr, R Kmita, Stobbs (M Kmita 82’); Anderson-James, Peters (Wealthall 55’)
Subs not used: Chong,
Goals: Wheeler 18’, Peters 34’, Anderson-James 63’ 75’, Wealthall 79’