Lehmann and Ross fire Hammers to Bristol City win

Win over Bristol

 

Goals from Alisha Lehmann and Jane Ross secured a deserved 2-0 win for West Ham United at Rush Green Stadium against Bristol City Women.

Lehmann scored the first goal of the day, with the forward's deflected shot wrong-footing Sophie Baggaley to sneak in at the near post, after a fantastic run into a dangerous area.

The Swiss international could have made it 2-0 on 68 minutes, but somehow fired over from six yards.

Ross then scored the second goal on 89 minutes to seal the three points for the Irons, as she latched on to a poor pass back to the goalkeeper and slotted it home.

The visitors got the first half underway, but almost immediately the Irons won the ball back and enjoyed much of the early possession.

The first chance came on eight minutes when a corner was played in, which the Bristol City defence failed to deal. Lehmann found herself with the ball and fired an effort on goal, which was cleared off the line.

It was just five minutes later that West Ham opened the scoring. Lehmann fended off a number of Bristol City players, allowing her to have a shot at goal. Her shot took a deflection and crept in at the near post.

On 23 minutes, great running from Leanne Kiernan saw her prevent the ball from going out. The ball was played back to Claire Rafferty who put in a great cross, but the Irons failed to take advantage.

The returning Rafferty had a chance to double the Hammers’ lead on 35 minutes. Kiernan, again down the wing, played in a great ball and found the left-back at the back post, but she failed to make a good connection and the ball fell in to Baggaley’s arms.

Then only a minute later, West Ham were again on the attack, as Julia Simic spotted the goalkeeper off her line, but sent her chipped effort just wide of the target.

A half-time substitution saw Esmee De Graaf come on for Kiernan, and straight away West Ham were back on the attack looking to give themselves a two-goal cushion, with Longhurst firing just wide of the target.

On 51 minutes Longhurst won the ball and set herself up for a shot, but she fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Bristol City had a chance on 54 minutes, as Ella Rutherford won the ball off of Erin Simon and played it to Juliette Hemppi, but her shot was straight at Anna Moorhouse.

On 68 minutes Lehmann had a great opportunity to make it 2-0. De Graaf played in a great ball to Lehmann, only for her to fire over from six yards.

In the closing stages Moorhouse made a great save to tip the ball over and deny Rosella Ayane from equalising.

As the game ticked to a close, Ross scored the goal to win the game. A poor pass back to the goalkeeper was intercepted by the Scottish forward, who stroked the ball past Baggaley and confirm the three points for the Irons.

West Ham United: Moorhouse; Simon, Flaherty (c), Hendrix, Rafferty, Reichardt (Visalli 58), Simic, Longhurst, Kiernan (De Graaf 46), Ross, Lehmann (Sampson 90)

Subs not used: Spencer, Kmita, 

Goals: Lehmann 13, Ross 89

Bristol City Women: Baggaley; Dykes (c), Brown, Kerkdijk, Pattinson, Humphrey, Hemppi (Robinson 70), Rutherford (Payne 61), Graham, Ayane, Biesmans

Subs not used: Watson, Johnson, Wilson, Woolley