- West Ham scored an damage time objective in opposition to Tottenham on Sunday night
- The consequence has dented Tottenham's hopes of ending third within the league this time period
- Kate Longhurst, a lifelong Hammers fan, scored the equaliser within the 92nd minute
- It salvaged a degree for West Ham and noticed Spurs drop from second to fourth
The battle for Champions League qualification took one other twist on Sunday as West Ham scored an damage time objective to dent rivals Tottenham's hopes of ending third.
Kate Longhurst, a lifelong West Ham fan, grabbed the equaliser within the 92nd minute when the sport seemed past her aspect. The Hammers, who performed many of the second half with 10, had not had a shot on course earlier than the defender met Dagny Brynjarsdottir's cross to move the ball over Tottenham goalkeeper Becky Spencer.
The objective salvaged a degree for West Ham and noticed Spurs drop from second to fourth. Manchester United at the moment are third on objective distinction whereas in-form Manchester Metropolis are simply two factors behind. It makes Spurs' conflict with United at Leigh Sports activities Village subsequent weekend much more essential.
It's refreshing to see the WSL broad open on the midway stage, with all the things to play for at each the highest and backside of the desk.
Tottenham have been made to pay for not placing this recreation to mattress. They might have had two or three extra targets after Rosella Ayane's 54th minute penalty however their careless ending was punished.
There was little that was fairly about this contest and the state of the pitch at The Hive was closely criticised by West Ham boss Olli Tougher earlier than kick-off.
Tougher insisted the floor at The Hive was 'not up to WSL standard' and in contrast it to Hackney Marshes. Spurs ground-share with Nationwide League aspect Barnet, who had performed Chesterfield at residence 24 hours earlier.
Tougher's feedback have been just like these made by Emma Hayes about Liverpool's taking part in floor in 2019. The Reds play at Prenton Park, the house of League 2 membership Tranmere, and Hayes described the pitch as a 'stain on our league'.
MATCH FACTS
Scorer: Ayane 54 (pen).
Supervisor: Rehanne Skinner.
Scorer: Longhurst 90+2.
Supervisor: Olli Tougher.
Referee: Amy Fearn
Attendance: 678
It's price mentioning that West Ham would not have a pitch of their very own and ground-share with Dagenham and Redbridge.
Solely Everton has a stadium that's only for the ladies's workforce. Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis share their grounds with their males's youth groups, however the surfaces at Kingsmeadow and the Academy Stadium are impeccable. Situations at The Hive have been poor and the state of the pitch solely acquired worse as rain continued to fall.
Ayane had one of the best likelihood of the primary half as each groups struggled to get a foot on the ball. The Spurs ahead was performed via by Jiali Tang within the third minute however Hammers' goalkeeper Anna Leat unfold herself effectively to make an necessary cease.
Ashleigh Neville flashed a volley simply broad within the thirtieth minute earlier than Grace Fisk despatched a side-footed effort over the bar earlier than the half-time whistle.
The breakthrough for Spurs got here within the 54th minute when Tang drew Hawa Cissoko into a slipshod sort out simply contained in the field. Referee Amy Fearn pointed to the spot and Ayane stepped as much as place the ball into the underside left nook past Leat, who had guessed the suitable method.
Spurs felt aggrieved that Cissoko was not despatched off for the foul, given she had been booked within the first half. However Cissoko wasn't on the pitch for for much longer. The defender was penalised for one more foul however it was her petulance in kicking the ball away that noticed her choose up a second yellow card. Fearn had no selection however to present Cissoko her marching orders following a disastrous 5 minutes. It was an act that price the Hammers dearly.
Neville got here shut to creating it 2-0 when she drove into the world and fizzed a shot throughout objective, however her effort was blocked on the road by Lucy Parker.
Tang in all probability ought to have doubled Spurs' lead within the 79th minute when she was despatched via on objective however Leat made one other massive cease to maintain her aspect within the recreation.
And Leat's saves proved important because the Hammers nicked a degree when Longhurst acquired above Shelina Zadorsky to move previous Spencer.