Bill Robinson reports from Moneyfields…..
Happy Hammers top the table!
IT MAY have been just the solitary goal from Gemma Shepherd but the three points puts the Hammers clear at the top of the table.
Unbeaten in the league this season Hammers Manager Julia Setford said “It was a great performance by the girls today, when they left the field they were still buzzing”
The first half was an evenly fought out contest with both teams creating chances, the Hammers back four where more than able to deal with the Pompey threat despite having to be reshuffled because Jo Woodgates and captain Nat Grafton were unavailable so Tracey Duxford dropped back and Danica Revell came up from the reserves and along with Rosey Sullivan and Jess Barling they were outstanding.
The second half saw the Hammers take more control as the midfielders started to dominate the game and Pompey girls where now having to do the defending.
On 53minutes Gemma Shepherd’s header decided the match, Emma Thomas started the move with a run down the right flank taking on and passing two defenders, her cross was deep to the far post, but with Becky Merritt’s run to the near post taking the Pompey defenders with her, this left Gemma Shepherd with time and space at the back post to plant her header firmly into the back of the net.
West Ham pushed on looking for the safety of a second goal but despite constant pressure it never came.
Then in the nervous last minutes Pompey had two great chances to snatch a point, first they were stopped by Rosey Sullivan’s tackling and then by a fine save fro Toni-Ann Wayne.
Next up for the Hammers is a Home match at Ship Lane versus Charlton Ath Ladies next Sunday kick off 2:00pm
