Jasmine Auguste believes that West Ham United Ladies set the standard that they must hit each game during the 6-0 win away to Swindon Town Ladies.
A blistering second half performance put the Irons on their way to nine competitive matches without defeat, after Leanne Mabey’s first half finish put the Hammers in front. A pair of goals apiece for Kelly Wealthall and Ellie Zoepfl, and a first finish for the club for Molly Clark, earned the Hammers another three points.
Auguste has been a consistent figure in the backline this season and, having seen the improvements in the side since the turn of the year, the left-back believes the Ladies are showing the standard they can operate at.
“I feel like we’re setting our standard now,” Auguste told whufc.com: “We all know what we’re working towards and what we are building to. It sets the standard - to keep clean sheets and be unbeaten.
“Earlier in the season we were struggling to win games and were letting in silly goals, but now we’re nine games unbeaten in 2018, which makes us really happy and shows our ambition.”
I feel like we're setting our standard now. We're nine games unbeaten in 2018, which makes us really happy and shows our ambition.
Jasmine Auguste
On the result, she continued: “We’re buzzing. We’re definitely in a good moment. We worked hard and the defensive aspect of the game was strong all the way from front to back.
“To go nine games unbeaten, and not concede today, is excellent, and we’re all really happy to come away with the result. It’s been a good 2018 for us so far.”
Mabey opened the scoring on 30 minutes for West Ham, stabbing home after Swindon failed to clear a corner. The Ladies should have been further ahead prior to the half-time whistle though, with Rosie Kmita and Molly Clark both wasting chances.
The scoreline started to reflect West Ham’s quality in the second period as Wealthall headed home just moments after the restart. Zoepfl then powered in a low shot before Clark’s powerful effort nearly burst the net. Wealthall and Zoepfl then doubled their individual tallies late on.
Auguste added: “I think, to be honest, the first half was awful. We all went into the changing room at half-time feeling a little embarrassed about the performance. We knew we had to pick it up in the second period and really put in the effort. We came out more tenacious, hungrier, and got the rewards with five goals in the second 45.”
Auguste provided the assist for West Ham’s final goal, crossing in for Zoepfl to head home, and was a threat on the left-flank throughout the fixture.
Despite being pleased with her contribution, Auguste is targeting a goal of her own between now and the end of the campaign.
“It’s good to get an assist,” Auguste said: “I think I’ve been doing a lot of good defensive work but it’s nice to go forward and get that assist.
“It would have been nice to get a goal as well, but I’ll take the assist from this game, although a goal is 100 per cent on the agenda between now and the end of the season. I’ll definitely get one at some point.
“Playing full-back means I can get into those attacking positions, get forward for corners and stuff, so it’s definitely something I want to do before the season is over."