West Ham eased to a crucial three points in the Women’s Continental League Cup against Lewes, with goals from Leanne Kiernan and Kenza Dali sealing the win for the East London side.
Reactionary Hammers
In an expectant crowd of 652 people at Rush Green Stadium, The Hammers started the game against their Championship opponents on the front foot after their disappointing performance at Manchester City last Sunday.
Their first of many early chances, came from Kenza Dali whose first-time effort from Cecile Redisch Kvamme’s cross was well saved by Lewes’ goalkeeper Faye Baker.
West Ham’s next attack failed to test Baker, as Dali found Leanne Kiernan, whose weak effort from 25 yards was easily caught by the Lewes stopper.
Glorious Galabadaarachchi
Kiernan made up for her weak effort, after Jacynta Galabadaarachchi turned two Lewes players on the right-hand side and drove at the Lewes defence before squaring her pass to Keirnan, whose looping effort into the bottom right corner put the Irons in front.
West Ham came close to doubling their lead after Galabadaarachchi’s shot on the left-hand side was palmed away from goal by Baker, before latching onto the rebound and being clipped in the box by Lewes defender Charley Boswell to give a penalty to West Ham.
Dali converted the spot kick, placing her penalty into the bottom right corner, beyond the reach of Baker who dived the right way.
Lowly Lewes
Lewes were forced into a substitution after 33 minutes played, as Ella Powell replaced Sammy Quayle who picked up an injury and was seen limping on her way to the dressing room.
Lewes’ night went from bad to worse, as The Irons scored a third to effectively secure the win just before half time. Galabadaarachchi’s first time layoff to Dali on the edge of the area, enabled the French international to place her effort into the bottom right hand corner.
Knowing that the win was all but guaranteed, Matt Beard replaced Kiernan for academy graduate Wiktoria Kizkis at half time.
Lewes also made a change, as Boswell was substituted for Emily Donovan.
Attacking Intent
Galabadaarachchi, who was later named as Hammer of the Match, was close to adding a fourth for West Ham. The 18-year-old’s shot was cleared off the line into the path of Brooke Hendrix whose shot was also cleared off the line for a corner.
Dali came close to scoring her hat-trick as the midfielder’s speculative strike from distance just flew over Baker’s bar.
Lewes scored a consolation in the 78th minute. Danielle Lane’s cross after her surging run on the right-hand side, was slotted into the far corner by Chloe Winchester to give the travelling Lewes fans something to cheer.
All Or Nothing
The win for West Ham means that they’ve given themselves the opportunity to progress into the next round of the cup if they win their final group game at home against Crystal Palace, who are placed just below Lewes in the FA Women’s Championship.
Matt Beard reacted to the victory by telling the club’s website, “We’ve put ourselves in a good position. Our target was to get out of a tough group and, if we can do that, it will be good achievement.”
