Marc Nurse said his side's hard work was rewarded against Crystal Palace
West Ham Ladies manager Marc Nurse was delighted with a ‘much better performance’ after his side beat Crystal Palace 3-0 in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup determining round.
After an opening league defeat away to Coventry United, the Hammers got off to the best of starts against the Eagles when former Millwall Lionesses midfielder Shirvae Edwards netted a powerful strike on her competitive debut.
Before the break, Captain Stacey Little found the top corner of the Palace net from around 30 yards out, before striker Emma Sherwood had a goal disallowed for offside.
The result was sealed late in the second half when defender Danica Revell diverted Sherwood’s corner into the top corner, leaving Nurse delighted with his side’s performance.
“It was a much better performance from the team and it’s a fantastic result” confirmed Nurse. “We were comfortable in the first half and went in at the break 2-0 up. We’ve worked really hard in training over the past two weeks and it paid dividends because we really were on top of the game.
“First 25 minutes we were on top and got our two goal lead which was perfect but then we seemed to drop off slightly. In the end, our true quality shone through.
“In the second half, we did well to hold Crystal Palace off and managed to nick a third. It was game over from there and I’m really proud of the girls for the effort they put in to training recently.”
Speaking after the victory, Nurse praised his side’s three goal scorers.
“Shirvae has shown fantastic potential during pre-season and I have absolutely no doubt about her ability,” he continued. “She was struggling a little bit with a hamstring but I thought she coped really well and put in a fantastic performance. There is still a lot more to see from her in terms of her performance but it was a hell of a shot so I’m delighted to have her on board.
“Stacey too can do it! She’s been doing it in training and I’ve been encouraging her to shoot. She has the ability to control the ball, drive forward and take shots because that’s what she’s there for. I’m really proud that she’s scored a goal because Stacey deserves after working her socks off in every game.”
After an opening league defeat away to Coventry United, the Hammers got off to the best of starts against the Eagles when former Millwall Lionesses midfielder Shirvae Edwards netted a powerful strike on her competitive debut.
Before the break, Captain Stacey Little found the top corner of the Palace net from around 30 yards out, before striker Emma Sherwood had a goal disallowed for offside.
The result was sealed late in the second half when defender Danica Revell diverted Sherwood’s corner into the top corner, leaving Nurse delighted with his side’s performance.
“It was a much better performance from the team and it’s a fantastic result” confirmed Nurse. “We were comfortable in the first half and went in at the break 2-0 up. We’ve worked really hard in training over the past two weeks and it paid dividends because we really were on top of the game.
“First 25 minutes we were on top and got our two goal lead which was perfect but then we seemed to drop off slightly. In the end, our true quality shone through.
“In the second half, we did well to hold Crystal Palace off and managed to nick a third. It was game over from there and I’m really proud of the girls for the effort they put in to training recently.”
Speaking after the victory, Nurse praised his side’s three goal scorers.
“Shirvae has shown fantastic potential during pre-season and I have absolutely no doubt about her ability,” he continued. “She was struggling a little bit with a hamstring but I thought she coped really well and put in a fantastic performance. There is still a lot more to see from her in terms of her performance but it was a hell of a shot so I’m delighted to have her on board.
“Stacey too can do it! She’s been doing it in training and I’ve been encouraging her to shoot. She has the ability to control the ball, drive forward and take shots because that’s what she’s there for. I’m really proud that she’s scored a goal because Stacey deserves after working her socks off in every game.”
The Hammers head back into league action on Sunday when they face FA Women’s Premier League South newcomers Forest Green Rovers and after a reality check in Coventry, Nurse knows he cannot underestimate any team in the league this season.
“We will head out in that game and look to be olid but also try and win the game. I’m looking forward to that game and there is a lot of belief in the girls at the moment whether at training, on the pitch or in the dressing room. It’s getting better and I’m really happy with that.”
Speaking to whufc.com after the game, captain Little reiterated what her manager said by declaring her delight with the Palace result.
“We are over the moon,” added Little. “The Coventry game was a wakeup call in many respects. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy against Crystal Palace. Yes they are the league below us but they are a decent side. I watched them last season against C&K Basildon and they were pushing for promotion so we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game.
"We started off well but slacked off a little bit, that put ourselves under massive pressure in the second half but we managed to get the third goal and relieve that pressure so we are delighted with the result.
“It just sat up for me perfectly and I knew what I was going to do with it. It was the same end that I scored against Barking in the Essex County Cup Final here a few seasons ago so I like that end of the pitch. I was doubting at one point whether it was going in but I’m delighted it did!”
Edwards was equally delighted: “I’m buzzing. It’s my first game back since flying home from Grenada so I’m happy with the result and getting a goal. I’m very pleased.
“It’s nice to pull on the shirt with my surname on! I was a little nervous because I knew they weren’t going to be pushovers.
“I remember giving Emma Sherwood the ball and she set it for me so I just thought why not?”
The Hammers will look to secure their first Premier League South points of the season when they travel to Slimbridge AFC on Sunday 6 September to face Forest Green Rovers.
Ladies: Chauhan, Stimson, Revell, Wheeler, Bottom, Little (c), Edwards (Anderson-James), Blanchflower, Mellors, Ritson (Miller), Sherwood (Locke)
Subs not used: Xidhas, Sammons.
“We will head out in that game and look to be olid but also try and win the game. I’m looking forward to that game and there is a lot of belief in the girls at the moment whether at training, on the pitch or in the dressing room. It’s getting better and I’m really happy with that.”
Speaking to whufc.com after the game, captain Little reiterated what her manager said by declaring her delight with the Palace result.
“We are over the moon,” added Little. “The Coventry game was a wakeup call in many respects. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy against Crystal Palace. Yes they are the league below us but they are a decent side. I watched them last season against C&K Basildon and they were pushing for promotion so we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game.
"We started off well but slacked off a little bit, that put ourselves under massive pressure in the second half but we managed to get the third goal and relieve that pressure so we are delighted with the result.
“It just sat up for me perfectly and I knew what I was going to do with it. It was the same end that I scored against Barking in the Essex County Cup Final here a few seasons ago so I like that end of the pitch. I was doubting at one point whether it was going in but I’m delighted it did!”
Edwards was equally delighted: “I’m buzzing. It’s my first game back since flying home from Grenada so I’m happy with the result and getting a goal. I’m very pleased.
“It’s nice to pull on the shirt with my surname on! I was a little nervous because I knew they weren’t going to be pushovers.
“I remember giving Emma Sherwood the ball and she set it for me so I just thought why not?”
The Hammers will look to secure their first Premier League South points of the season when they travel to Slimbridge AFC on Sunday 6 September to face Forest Green Rovers.
Ladies: Chauhan, Stimson, Revell, Wheeler, Bottom, Little (c), Edwards (Anderson-James), Blanchflower, Mellors, Ritson (Miller), Sherwood (Locke)
Subs not used: Xidhas, Sammons.