Martinez makes her mark in West Ham’s mature victory
West Ham capped off a positive week with a composed 2-0 victory at home to Everton. Shekiera Martinez and Viviane Asseyi both struck in the first half to give Rehanne Skinner’s side some breathing room from the relegation battle.
The Action
A confident West Ham saw off a frustrated Everton team amidst horrible conditions at Dagenham on Sunday. This was a battle between 8th and 9th before the weekend began, with both gradually showing some signs of form and ability to take themselves out of the relegation battle. There were new faces on show with Austrian defender Verena Hanshaw straight in at full-back for the hosts while Kelly Gago earned her first Everton start.
Brian Sørensen had called for his side to start quickly in his pre-match press conference and for the most part he got what he asked for. The Toffees began on the front foot, hitting West Ham with pace on the counter. They created chances in the opening stages but when Gago headed over and Katja Snoeijs agonisingly hitting the woodwork from about five yards out, there were perhaps signs that this would not be a walk in the park.
West Ham struck against the run of play in the ninth minute when Shekiera Martinez headed home Viviane Asseyi’s corner to make Everton pay. In an energetic first half, the visitors looked to respond but continuted to struggle in front of goal. It was a theme of their afternoon – across the 90 minutes, they created 17 chances but registered none on target.
The hosts consolidated their lead when Sara Holmgaard brought Seraina Piubel down in the box. Asseyi stepped up to turn the subsequent spot kick home just before the break.
Everton huffed and puffed in the second half but could not find a way back into the game despite a host of changes. West Ham, in contrast, put on a display of their growing maturity. They defended solidly as a unit throughout and remained composed to ensure they took all three points. It was a victory that means they sit six points clear of Crystal Palace at the bottom of the table.
Stand Out Moment
Is there anything more special than scoring your first WSL goal on your first WSL start? It was the perfect beginning to life as a West Ham player for German forward Shekiera Martinez who is getting her first taste of life in English football. The 23-year-old signed for the East London club in the summer but went out immediately on loan to SC Freiburg to accumulate the required points to work in the UK. Her ninth minute goal put her name on the scoresheet, leaping high to beat Megan Finnigan at the near post and head it home.
Shekiera Martinez heads home a beautifully delivered corner 🙌#BarclaysWSL @westhamwomen pic.twitter.com/PoD5FtAtyB
— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 26, 2025
Stand Out Performance
The performance of Viviane Asseyi on Sunday epitomised how integral she has become to this West Ham side in recent years. It is not only her qualities in attack and her driving runs that offer threat every time they transition from back to front, it is also her work rate in the defensive side of her game. An assist and goal in the match marked a mature display from the French player who is clearly a leader amongst Rehanne Skinner’s squad. Her developing partnership with Shekiera Martinez will be one to watch.
Quote of the Day
We were coming here to get the three points, and I thought the players performed fantastically from the first whistle. We created loads of opportunities, and I thought we played some great football in front of and behind their defensive line. The forward line did a great job, but defensively we were really resolute again.
Rehanne Skinner, West Ham
Teams
WEST HAM
Kinga Szemik; Anouk Denton, Amber Tysiak, Camila Sáez, Verena Hanshaw; Seraina Piubel, Oona Siren, Katrina Gorry (c), Vivianne Asseyi; Riko Ueki, Shekiera Martinez
Subs: Megan Walsh; Princess Ademiluyi; Marika Bergman-Lundin; Dagny Brynjarsdóttir; Emma Harries; Li Mengwen; Manuela Paví; Kirsty Smith; Shelina Zadorsky
Manager: Rehanne Skinner
EVERTON
Courtney Brosnan; Lucy Hope, Megan Finnigan (c), Martina Fernández, Sara Holmgaard; Clare Wheeler, Hayley Ladd, Honoka Hayashi; Katja Snoeijs; Toni Payne, Kelly Gago
Subs: Emily Ramsey; Melissa Lawley; Karoline Olesen; Heather Payne; Louna Ribadeira; Lauren Thomas; Justine Vanhaevermaet; Emma Watson
Manager: Brian Sørensen
