Kate Longhurst was thrilled West Ham United claimed a first victory of the 2019/20 campaign in a tricky test at home to Birmingham City.
The Irons secured the three points thanks to Adriana Leon’s first goal of the season; a strike Longhurst will claim an assist for, after her skewed shot fell into the Canadian’s path.
A match played in warm conditions made for a tricky afternoon for both sets of players, and Longhurst has hailed her team’s tenacity in seeing out the result.
The midfielder also reserved praise for the West Ham United supporters in attendance, with 1,478 fans packing into Rush Green Stadium for Sunday’s match.
It was always going to be a hard game and we had to dig in. It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but the three points is all that matters.
Kate Longhurst
“It was really good,” Longhurst said. “We had a good crowd and we could really hear them, and it definitely helped us in the last half an hour or so when we were a little bit leggy.
“The conditions were hard – it was so hot – and I think we rode our luck a little bit. Over the whole performance though, and for the way we dug in, I think we deserved the three points.
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“It was tough, but I think you know it’s going to be physical when you play Birmingham. It was always going to be a hard game and we had to dig in. It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but the three points is all that matters.”
Sunday’s win comes after the Irons opened the season away to reigning Barclays FA WSL champions Arsenal, a match West Ham fought valiantly in, but ultimately lost 2-1.
Longhurst was happy with the performance in that game, and in Sunday’s victory, and says the team themselves feel the sky is the limit in terms of what they can achieve.
She continued: “We want to go into every game and come out of it with three points. That’s it. I don’t think we can limit ourselves on what we can do.
“We’re a relatively new group so we don’t completely know what we’re capable of, but we’re going into each game trying to win them. We’re taking it game by game.”
West Ham return to league action a week on Sunday, when the Hammers take on Tottenham Hotspur in the team’s first-ever match at London Stadium.
A lifelong West Ham fan, Longhurst cannot wait to step out on the pitch at Stratford on Sunday 29 September.
She added: “Tottenham is a London derby so it’s always going to have a bit of added spice and some pressure. Hopefully we can get a really good crowd and I think it will be a good game. It’s definitely one we want to take three points from.”
