West Ham Girls 0 – 1 Man Metropolis Girls

Bunny Shaw’s strike moved Manchester Metropolis to inside six factors of the Girls’s Tremendous League summit with a 1-0 victory away at West Ham.

With final week’s high two Arsenal and Chelsea drawing on the Emirates Stadium and Manchester United beating Liverpool to maneuver into second place, Metropolis have been in want of a victory to maintain up with the highest three sides.

After an end-to-end first half which ended goalless, Shaw put Gareth Taylor’s aspect in entrance by rounding Mackenzie Arnold and slotting dwelling a slick Metropolis transfer involving Yui Hasegawa and Deyna Castellanos for what proved to be the winner.

The victory strikes Metropolis on to 22 factors, three behind Manchester United and Arsenal. All three title rivals have a sport in hand on champions Chelsea, who paved the way on 28 factors.

West Ham, in the meantime, spurned their alternative to maneuver one level behind Metropolis and because of this drop to sixth following Everton’s win over Studying earlier within the day.

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How Metropolis edged previous the Hammers

An open first interval noticed Manchester Metropolis begin brightly with loads of possession and half-chances, however West Ham grew into the sport and created the higher high quality alternatives to take the lead.

Metropolis had Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp creating havoc on each wings, with the latter seeing a number of close-range possibilities blocked, whereas defender Allana Kennedy pressured Australian compatriot Arnold into a great cease within the Hammers aim.

However West Ham got here inside inches of taking the lead from a nook as an almighty goalmouth scramble noticed Grace Fisk prod a shot goalwards from six yards – however Leila Ouahabi hacked the ball away on the aim line with Ellie Roebuck crushed.

The Hammers created one other excellent probability to take the lead on the stroke of half-time as Risa Shimizu broke away down the best wing and her near-post drive was nicely tipped over by Metropolis goalkeeper Roebuck.

Paul Konchesky’s hosts would go on to remorse these missed alternatives as Metropolis took the lead simply 5 minutes after the interval.

The guests performed two slick vertical passes to Hasegawa and Castellanos to open up the West Ham midfield. Castellanos then performed by way of Shaw with an outstanding first-time move, leaving the striker with the straightforward activity of rounding Arnold within the Hammers web and tapping dwelling her ninth league aim of the season.

West Ham tried to reply right away as Fisk headed over Lucy Evans’ free-kick when discovered unmarked within the six-yard field.

Shaw, nevertheless, was within the temper for extra as she was denied one other aim by an outstanding last-ditch problem by Hawa Cissoko, moments earlier than flicking on Kelly’s cross that simply evaded the onrushing Hemp for a tap-in on the far put up.

Metropolis’s goalscorer missed an ideal probability to double her haul as she burst down the best flank and struck the skin of the far put up, with Hemp seeing her rebounded flick tipped over by Arnold.

West Ham’s goalkeeper was additionally equal to Castellanos’ close-range end from the ensuing nook, as the sport fizzled out in Metropolis’s favour – incomes them an important three factors.

Manchester Metropolis supervisor Gareth Taylor to Sky Sports activities after the win: “It was a tricky sport. It might have been good if we had edged forward with a pair extra possibilities that we had within the second half.

“We have been very calm at half-time. I all the time felt it was a matter of time earlier than we acquired an opportunity and we scored early on and I assumed it was a unbelievable aim. I assumed we confirmed actual good resilience and noticed the sport out nicely.”

West Ham supervisor Paul Konchesky: “I assumed my crew have been wonderful right this moment. We need to preserve going. We need to go as excessive and get as many factors as we presumably can.

“We need to achieve success. Hopefully, we will do this. I believe if we put performances like this in each week then I believe we will go a good distance as a crew.”

What’s subsequent?

Each groups flip their consideration to the FA WSL Cup in midweek, with Manchester Metropolis travelling to Leicester Metropolis, whereas West Ham go to Brighton.

Man Metropolis’s subsequent WSL sport is a house conflict in opposition to Aston Villa, stay on Sky Sports activities with kick-off at 11.30am. West Ham, in the meantime, journey to Everton within the league subsequent Sunday.