Report: West Ham United 1-1 Bristol City Women.

The Robins took an early lead when Molly Pike’s corner went in off Emily Van Egmond, but a second-half goal from Katerina Svitková levelled the scoring.

The result keeps Bristol City at the bottom of the WSL on six points, whilst the Hammers remain one place above on eight. 

What happened? 

Carla Humphrey tested the West Ham ‘keeper within the first minute when Ebony Salmon’s cleared cross fell to the midfielder, but her half-volley towards the bottom corner was well held by Mackenzie Arnold.

City continued their bright start and Yana Daniels’s high press forced a corner, which lead to the Robins opening the scoring. 

Pike’s floated corner bounced into the net from close range after it struck Van Egmond to give City a well-deserved lead in the opening 10 minutes. 

Salmon came inches away from adding a second when she was played in down the left and created some shooting space, but her left-footed effort hit the outside of the post.

The snow wasn’t showing any signs of slowing down in East London, resulting in difficult conditions for both teams to deal with as a lack of chances were created by either side for the remainder of the half.

The Hammers were quickest out the blocks in the second half and found the equaliser three minutes after the restart.

City blocked a cross sent into the box but were unable to clear the ball and escape the hosts’ high press as Svitková pounced on a loose ball and drilled past Sophie Baggaley.

Salmon determinedly looked for an instant response as she drove towards the West Ham backline and breezed past Gilly Flaherty, but her low shot towards the near post was saved by Arnold. 

The Hammers thought they had taken the lead when Laura Vetterlein’s freekick flew over the City wall and was destined for the top corner, but an outstanding fingertip save saw Baggaley tip the ball over the bar and out for a corner. 

Charlie Wellings tried an audacious curling effort from the left corner of the box and beat Arnold, her effort which seemed destined for the top corner was blocked on the line by Longhurst and danger was cleared. 

Jemma Purfield rattled the bar wit a freekick on the edge of the box as City went close in their search for a second goal. The full-back lifted the ball over the Hammer’s wall and had the ‘keeper scrambling across her line, but the ball crashed off the bar.

Both teams had half-chances to find a winner in the last 10 minutes or so, but the score remained all square as each side came away with a point. 

Teams:

West Ham United: Arnold, Redisch, Pacheco, Flaherty ©, Thomas (Joel, 72), Svitková, Longhurst, Leon, Fisk, Van Egmond, Vetterlein.

Subs: Brosnan, Mustafa, Dali, Cissoko, Barker.

Bristol City: Baggaley, Evans, Matthews ©, Pike, Humphrey, Salmon, Daniels, Wellings (Harrison, 86), Allen, Purfield, Skeels.

Subs: Haaland, Bryson, Rafferty, Palmer, Bissell, Collis, Mastrantonio, Jones.

Key Moment: Sophie Baggaley 

With the game in the balance and the score level, West Ham won a free-kick in a dangerous position as they looked the build on their first goal and add a second. 

Vetterlein was the player to step up and the defender couldn’t have hit it any better – the ball dipped over the wall and was destined for the top corner, however Baggaley was on hand to deny the German.

At full-stretch, the ‘keeper raced across her line and managed to tip the ball magnificently over the bar and onto the roof of the net, leaving West Ham wondering how they didn’t take the lead. 

Baggers has it covered

Player of the Match: Jemma Purfield

Purfield has been a revelation for City since her arrival in the summer, and the full-back put in another brilliant performance today. 

A constant threat with her crossing ability and attacking prowess down the left, and she almost got her name on the scoresheet with a fabulous freekick that she was unlucky to see cannon back into play off the crossbar. 

Solid.

Author: Lewis Barton

Match Report Sponsor: University of the West of England