An astonishing ten goals from West Ham United Ladies secured the team’s biggest league win of the campaign against QPR Ladies.
Three goals in the opening 20 minutes – from Amber Stobbs, Chantelle Mackie, and Kelly Wealthall – put the Hammers well on their way to an impressive victory, with Ellie Zoepfl adding a fourth with a header on 34 minutes.
The American made it five just ten minutes after the restart before Wealthall nabbed her second, with Rosie Kmita making it seven less than a minute after her teammate’s goal.
And Wealthall completed her hat-trick, and the rout, as she showed off her striker’s instinct, tapping in after Andria Georgiou struck the cross-bar.
There was still time for Stobbs to get her second, before Georgiou netted another finish from distance to make it ten.
An impressive first period for the Hammers got started after just ten minutes. Stobbs collected the ball around 25 yards from goal, turned her defender and unleashed a wicked shot towards the net. Although QPR goalkeeper Dolbear got a hand to the effort, the strike was too powerful, and found the top corner.
Four minutes later and West Ham had their second. Some good pressure earned Karen Ray’s side a corner, which Kmita whipped in. Mackie was the quickest to react, deftly heading in at the near post to register her first goal of the season for the side.
Striker Wealthall got in on the act before a quarter of the match had been played. Some excellent work from Kmita inside the penalty area saw the ball end up with Stobbs. The No10 whipped in a delicious cross which found Wealthall, who had made a well-timed run, allowing the 17-year-old to coolly steer the ball into the net.
West Ham weren’t done there though. The Irons had looked menacing from corners throughout the first period, and Kmita once again made QPR pay with a set-piece. This time, it was Zoepfl who rose highest, powerfully scoring with a headed effort.
The second period followed a similar vein for the Irons, with Stobbs testing the QPR shot-stopper with a low effort just after the restart.
On 56 minutes West Ham added to their goal tally. Zoepfl found the net with her second goal of the game, firing a low effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area after a good spell of pressure.
Mackie, motivated by her earlier finish, also continued to push forward with the right-back the closest to a Stobbs free-kick, before also seeing a high shot saved at the near post by Dolbear.
On 69 minutes the Hammers got their sixth goal. Stobbs, out on the right, played in a lofted cross, which was met by Kmita. The ball looked close to going over the line, with Wealthall in the right place to make sure the Irons got the goal.
If there was any debate about the sixth, there was none about the seventh just a minute later. Another Stobbs cross was again met by Kmita, but this time the No7’s deft header was definitely in the net, as it nestled into the bottom corner.
With less than ten minutes to play, Wealthall secured her hat-trick. Andria Georgiou unleashed a powerful strike that ricocheted off the cross-bar, and the striker was in the right place to tuck home the rebound.
West Ham United Ladies: Connatser; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin (Sampson 57’), Auguste; Georgiou, Clark, Stobbs; Zoepfl (Chong 57’), Wealthall, Kmita
Substitutes: Chong, Sampson, Mabey
Goals: Stobbs 10’ 90’, Mackie 14’, Wealthall 20’ 69’ 81’, Zoepfl 34’ 56’, Kmita 70’, Georgiou 90+1’