Ladies face promotion wait

West Ham United Ladies face an agonising wait to learn if they have gained promotion to the FA Women's Premier League National Division for the first time in the club's history.

The Hammers completed their slate of league fixtures last Sunday with a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion. The point gained from their trip to the south coast left West Ham on 33 points - level with third-place Cardiff City, who play their final match against fifth-place Keynsham Town.

Julia Setford's side will be promoted should Cardiff lose and Keynsham not win by a six-goal margin.

For their part, West Ham ended the 2010/11 campaign by winning two and drawing one of their final three league games - all of which were played away from their Ship Lane home.

A 1-0 defeat at Cardiff on 17 April was followed by a 2-1 victory at Yeovil Town a week later, with Joanne Woodgates and Carly Roache both on target.

The good form continued when West Ham travelled to Chatham Town FC to take on Gillingham Ladies on Wednesday 27 April.

Although the dry, hard and bumpy playing surface made conditions difficult for both sets of players, Setford's team adapted better to run out 2-0 winners. However, that was not before goalkeeper Nikki Duncan had pulled off a string of brave stops to keep the game goalless.

The opening goal finally arrived courtesy of Roache with just 15 minutes remaining, the midfielder volleying home Emma Thomas's cross following fine build-up play involving Nat Grafton, Stacey Little and Nina Downham. Five minutes later, Downham made the game safe with a smart run and finish.

The Ladies ended the season with a 1-1 draw at sun-soaked Brighton last Sunday afternoon. However, the result could have been even better had they held on to the first-half lead given to them by Becky Merritt (pictured).

Brighton's equaliser means West Ham face an anxious wait until Sunday's fixture between Cardiff and Keynsham is completed - with fingers being crossed for a narrow victory for the Somerset-based side.