Report: West Ham United 2-3 Bristol City.

City picked up their first Barclays Women’s Super League win of the season with a victory over West Ham United.

Goals from Amalie Thestrup, Ella Powell and Brooke Aspin were enough to see City, who had to come from behind, pick up all three points at The Chigwell Construction Stadium.

Lauren Smith made just a single change to the side which was narrowly beaten by Arsenal prior to the International break, as Kaylan Marckese replaced Liv Clark between the sticks, after having been ineligible to face her parent club last time out.

The first notable chance of the game fell to the hosts as a defensive mix-up in the City box allowed Riko Ueki to find some room and let fly, but Naomi Layzell stood tall to block her shot.

A central free-kick was floated into the City box and headed into the path of Hanoka Hayashi on the edge of the area, but her first time effort was always rising and didn't trouble Marckese. 

Amalie Thestrup utilised her pace to find some space down City’s left-hand side before pulling the ball back for Amy Rodgers. The Scot’s shot was powerful but blocked before Thestrup strayed offside as the ball ricocheted into her path inside the six-yard box.

Kirsty Smith was released on the right and teed up Izzy Atkinson, who’s shot was judged to have hit the arm of Megan Connolly, with referee Kirsty Dowle immediately pointing to the spot.

Viviane Asseyi made no mistake from 12 yards, tucking her penalty into the bottom corner. 

City wasted little time and got a deserved equaliser when Rachell Furness turned provider, whipping a wicked delivery into the box for Thestrup, who expertly flicked a header into the back of the net for her third of the season. 

The Robins took the lead soon after following a beautiful passage of play which resulted in Jamie-Lee Napier’s cross being acrobatically turned goalwards by Thestrup, whose effort was pushed away by Mackenzie Arnold, but only into the path of Ella Powell, who fired home from close range.

As we entered three minutes of additional time at the end of the first half, The Hammers equalised out of nothing, as Ueki turned on the edge of the box and swept into the bottom corner past the outstretched Marckese. 

The second period got underway and the hosts had a couple of half chances, first through Atkinson and then Risa Shimizu, who fired just over from range.

City took the lead for the second time as Connolly’s pinpoint delivery was headed home by Brooke Aspin, who climbed above the onrushing Arnold to bag her first of the season and put Smith’s side ahead.

Captain Connolly was involved again, this time at the other end, doing incredibly well to block Asseyi’s goalbound effort. 

Abi Harrison made her long awaited return from injury, replacing Ella Powell with 20 minutes left on the clock.

The Robins were denied a fourth, and Thestrup her second, when she tucked home Carrie Jones’ cross at full stretch, but celebrations were cut short lived as the assistant referee raised her flag for offside.

Jones was again involved as she got on the end of substitute Emily Syme’s through-ball, but the Welsh international's lofted effort was smothered by Arnold.

Six minutes of additional time were announced as Thestrup went close again, seeing her shot from Ffion Morgan’s cut-back saved by Arnold. 

Marckese did brilliantly to settle City nerves by holding on to Mel Filis’ driven shot as the home side pushed for a late equaliser. 

The Robins defended well to hold on and claim a deserved three points to take back to Bristol.

Team: Marckese (GK), Powell (Harrison ‘72), Aspin, Connolly ©, Layzell, Napier, Rodgers, Furness (Syme ‘72) , Morgan, Thestrup (Ward ‘90), Jones. Substitutes (not used): Clark (GK), Struck, Mustaki, Bull, Hayles, Teisar. 

Report by Kory Cook