Ladies suffer FA Women's Cup exit

West Ham United Ladies' FA Women's Cup run came to an end with a 5-1 third round defeat by Watford at Ship Lane.

The Hammers held the Lady Hornets - members of the newly-formed Super League 2 - to a one-goal half-time advantage, but the visitors proved too strong and pulled away in the second period.

West Ham did manage a late consolation goal, but an earlier hat-trick from Sarah Wiltshire and a goal apiece from Jo Wilson and substitute Magda Mosengo saw Watford through to a fourth round meeting with Sunderland.

The Hammers put in a spirited performance and the final scoreline was a little harsh on Mark Saunderson's side, who have played just twice in 2014 due to the recent inclement weather.

Wilson opened the scoring on four minutes, when she headed in Emma Beckett's cross, but West Ham defended resolutely to keep the deficit to 1-0 until the 52nd minute. Then, Wiltshire opened her account, converting after her initial effort had been pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Lauren Picton.

The Hammers then had their best period in the game, but this time it was the Watford defence which held firm under pressure.

Watford took control in the closing half-hour, however, and Picton saved brilliantly from Wilson, Wiltshire and Beckett to keep her team in the game.

The third goal arrived on 77 minutes. Josie Green took the throw in quickly to find Wilson in space on the left-hand side, and she squared it to Wiltshire for her second.

It was 4-0 a couple of minutes later, but not before Picton had denied Megan Wynne and Wiltshire, before Mosengo finally put the ball in the net. Wiltshire then secured her hat-trick on 82 minutes. Rowell picked her out in the box and Wiltshire found space away from the defenders to fire home.

Despite being five goals down, West Ham finished strongly and Kelley Blanchflower was denied by a flying save from Watford goalkeeper Shayla Burgess before the Hammers snatched a late consolation goal through Lindsey Morgan.

Ladies: Picton, King, Bottom (West 70), Beard, Masters (McCrea 58), Revell, Mellors, Little, Blanchflower, Lipley-Hinton (Albert 75), Morgan