West Ham United Ladies’ unbeaten run came to an end against Lewes in the FA Women’s Premier League on Sunday as they went down 2-1 to their Sussex opponents.
The Hammers dominated the first period and took the lead within six minutes when Kelly Wealthall slotted home from close range.
And despite Karen Ray’s outfit continuing their authority as the second half began and had a succession of chances, however two Lewes goals – courtesy of Katie McIntyre and Amy Taylor – turned the game on its head.
It was the perfect start for West Ham when they had the ball in the net and looked on their way to a 14th successive game without a defeat.
Ellie Zoepfl was sent in on goal, and when her first attempt cannoned back off goalkeeper Faye Baker, the Players’ Player of the Season was able to lift the ball into the box where Wealthall was waiting to tap home.
Just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark, there was a golden chance for the No9 to grab a second. Once again sent in on goal by Zoepfl, the forward struck towards goal but Baker, getting something on it, was able to prevent it crossing the line as Lewes scrambled the ball clear.
Eight minutes before the break, Zoepfl – who was at the heart of everything the Hammers were doing well – powered down the right-hand-side, but when her cross was slid along the six-yard-line, nobody in Claret and Blue was able to poke in for two.
Four minutes into the second period, it looked as if the hosts would go on to grab a second and kill the game, but skipper Rosie Kmita, picked out by Amber Stobbs, saw Baker block her low, goal-bound attempt.
Chances were few and far between, though West Ham saw more of the ball – that was until the 64th minute when the equaliser came.
Katie McIntyre, Lewes’ captain, received the ball on the left-hand-side 30 yards from goal before shifting it onto her right foot and smashing over Cara Connatser’s head from distance to make it 1-1.
The Hammers were made to wait for an opportunity to get themselves back in front, but it came ten minutes later. It was again Wealthall, played in by Stobbs, causing the danger, but her left-footed attempt but snuffed out.
With 80 minutes on the clock, Zoepfl was gifted a great chance to snatch the lead, but she could only send her free header over the crossbar from Molly Clark’s corner kick.
And further frustration for West Ham set in with five minutes to go as Lewes bagged what would eventually turn out to be the winner.
A mix-up at the back between Connatser and her defenders saw substitute Taylor pounce, as she slotted into an empty net to send the visitors wild.
More misery was yet in store for West Ham as Andria Georgiou, booked earlier in the second half for a seemingly nothing challenge, was given her marching orders having received a second yellow card.
The Hammers could not conjure up one last chance after that and their unbeaten run came to an end as the referee’s full-time whistle sounded.
West Ham United Ladies: Connatser; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin, Auguste; Georgiou, Clark, Stobbs; Zoepfl, Wealthall, Kmita
Subs not used: Chong, Maybe, Sampson
Goals: Wealthall 6
Lewes Ladies: Baker, Thompson, Waine, McCarthy, Wells, Carleton, McIntyre, Owen (Bridges 70), Bergin (Rowbotham 86), Lane, Carter (Taylor 70)
Subs not used: Goldsmid, Newton
Goals: McIntyre 64, Taylor 85