Emma Snerle was delighted to be out there from the beginning of the match, as she helped West Ham United Women beat Liverpool 1-0 in their Continental Tyres League Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on Wednesday.
The Irons had to battle hard against the Reds at Prenton Park, but eventually found a late winner through Dagný Brynjarsdóttir to send them into the final four and set up a home tie with Chelsea at Dagenham (Chigwell Construction Stadium).
Snerle hadn’t started a match for the Hammers since a 2-0 win over Reading back in April 2022, a game in which she scored her first goal for the Club. Since then, the midfielder has been limited to just two substitute appearances due to long-term injuries and setbacks.
But she was pleased to be back in the starting XI against the Reds, and even happier to see the team advance into the semi-finals.
"It was amazing to finally be on the pitch from the beginning with the girls," Snerle told whufc.com.
"I’m really proud of everyone tonight, we had to work really hard to make sure that we stayed in the game at certain points because it was a really even contest – but Dagny managed to find the goal to send us through.
“I think it’s going to take me a little bit of time to get back to the level that I want to, it’s difficult when you haven’t had a lot of minutes for so long, but I thought I did okay out there.
“There were parts of my game that I was happy with, others I wasn’t – so there’s definitely things to work on for me personally.”
Both sides had an equal 50/50 split of possession on a chilly evening in Birkenhead, and the number of shots each team on goal was pretty even too, with the Hammers registering 10 and Liverpool nine.
But it would be Snerle and her teammates that would come away with the win thanks to Brynjarsdóttir’s late header.
“It was an even game, but I also thought that we controlled a lot of the play for large periods. I always thought a goal would come because we had quite a few opportunities to score today, so I’m pleased for Dagny that she was able to get it to send us through.
“We were also able to keep a clean sheet, which is always a positive, and I think it was one that was earned by the whole team because everyone worked their socks off.”
Now, the Hammers turn their attention to another cup competition, namely the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. They will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in a fourth-round tie at New Bucks Head on Sunday.
Snerle is hoping that she will be able to get more minutes into her legs and help the Club advance in another cup competition.
“We want able to do well in both cup competitions this season, and the FA Cup gives us another opportunity to do that.
“We’re going up against a side from a couple of divisions below us, but we have to make sure we’re on it from the first minute – it will feel like a cup final for them,” she concluded.
