Ladies ready for Cup final

West Ham United Ladies have the chance to win silverware on Thursday evening when they take on Barking in the final of the Essex County Cup supported by BBC Essex at AFC Hornchurch.

The Ladies have endured a turbulent season, with indifferent league form and changes in management, but can ensure they end on a high in Thursday's cup final.

Skipper Stacey Little was with the club the last time they lifted the County Cup in 2011 and she would love a repeat agaisnt Barking.

She told West Ham TV: "To be able to get silverware after everything that has gone on would be a massive achievement this season.

"We went into training on Wednesday to get Sunday's defeat to Lewes out of the way and on Thursday we start afresh, with nothing in mind apart from winning that final.

"We have to stay focused and not go out there thinking we've already won it, but 100 percent I want to be lifting that trophy!"

Lindsey Morgan was captain the first time West Ham won this competition in 2009 and she is hoping for a big turnout from Hammers fans at Bridge Avenue.

She said: "This is the peak of our season and to win it would be a massive boost to the girls.

"I've been on the Twitter page this week, trying to advertise the game as much as possible and we've had loads of good feedback and loads of people are coming.

"For us as a club and a team we want to get more and more support, our profile gets bigger and we can grow."

Director of Football Julia Setford believes the prestige of lifting this cup would push the Hammers back in the right direction.

She added: "This cup is always special as it means you're the best in Essex. We want to be the best club around, we have a great junior set-up and a great senior set-up, and we want to show on the pitch that we are the best in the county.

"We just have to push forward as a club and show what we can do."

Meanwhile, Chairman Ray Wood says brighter times lie ahead for the club and he is looking forward to the future.

He explained: "It's a massive achievement for the club to reach any final and it would be nice to have a bit of silverware here..

"It has been a bad season, but hopefully we can win something and look ahead to next year, with a change of management, a better structure within the club and we will go from strength to strength."

Thursday's game will kick-off at 7.30pm at AFC Hornchurch. Admission is priced at £4 adults and £2 concessions