Seven-goal thriller at West Ham ends in victory

A brace from Grace Clinton inspired us to victory in our first Barclays Women’s Super League fixture of 2024 as we edged out West Ham United 4-3 at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

The three points sees us match our points tally from last season, having played 11 less games, but it was certainly a rollercoaster ride in Dagenham as we were twice pegged back before Jess Naz scored the crucial fourth. Clinton handed us the lead in the opening stages of the game before Risa Shimizu grabbed the equaliser just after the half hour mark.

Celin Bizet calmly finished to put us back ahead in the final stages of the first half before the England international grabbed her second with a lovely first time strike. The Hammers fought back, with Viviane Asseyi and Amber Tysiak bringing the score level, however, Naz stepped up to seal the victory.

Recent January signing Amanda Nildén, who joined the Club this week, was named on the bench while Robert Vilahamn made six changes to the starting XI, welcoming three key players back, Martha Thomas, Amy Turner and Clinton, with the latter making an instant impact on her return.

With just six minutes on the clock, Eveliina Summanen poked the ball into the feet of Clinton, some lovely footwork from the England international created space on the edge of the box and she sent a low-driven effort into the bottom corner.

Riko Ueki saw her attempted shot from distance take a big deflection wide, and from the resulting corner, Hawa Cissoko sent her header over the bar in the opening opportunities for the hosts.

Bethany England saw a powerful effort from the edge of the box fall straight into the hands of Mackenzie Arnold before Clinton’s curling effort was straight forward for the Hammers captain as we pushed for a second.

However, the hosts grew into the game and enjoyed a bright spell in the middle part of the first half, and they were rewarded in the 35^th minutes as a cross from the left was flicked towards goal by Risa Shimizu and past Barbora Votíková.

England was inches away from putting us back ahead as she rose highest to meet Clinton’s cross – who was constantly causing issues for the Hammers – but her header went narrowly wide.

We pilled on the pressure in the closing stages of the first half and retook the lead with Clinton turning provider, playing a lovely weighted pass for Bizet, she advanced into the box and calmly finished.

It should have been three, Athinen’s cross met first time by England in the centre of the box, but her effort spun over the bar. However, that didn’t matter as we extended our advantage three minutes into the second half, Athinen’s corner was only cleared to Clinton on the edge of the box, the 20-year-old striking a first time effort through a sea of bodies and into the bottom corner.

The Hammers pulled a goal back just after the hour mark as Asseyi forced the ball home from close-range, and found the equaliser in the 71st minute, as a free-kick from the left was met by Tysiak, she sent a looping header over Votíková and into the far corner.

The drama wasn’t over at Chigwell Construction Stadium, though, as we retook the lead five minutes later, England seeing an initial effort blocked with the ball falling to Naz just inside the area, her first time effort picking out the bottom right corner.

Gorry’s effort from distance struck the outside of the post as the hosts searched for another response, but we weathered the storm – on and off the pitch as Storm Isha arrived in Dagenham - to secure three hard-fought points.

Match data

Goals: West Ham – Shimizu 35, Asseyi 62, Tysiak 70; Spurs – Clinton 8, 51, Bizet 43, Naz 75.

Yellow cards: West Ham – Ueki 20, Cissoko 28, Gorry 42, Asseyi 87; Spurs – Batrip 84.

Referee: Stacey Pearson

Venue: Chigwell Construction Stadium

Weather: Heavy rain and wind, 11 degrees