‘Hopefully I can get some more goals this year’ is what Anouk Denton said prior to West Ham United women’s team’s clash with Crystal Palace this afternoon.
With her side desperate to seal the three points, sitting 3-2 to the good after falling two goals down inside the opening ten minutes, the full-back marauded forward as the clock ticked past the 80-minute mark, lined up a strike on her weaker left foot and fired the ball into the left corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The 21-year-old England U23s international - who has started every Barclays Women’s Super League game this season - is thriving under the attacking responsibilities Rehanne Skinner is giving her in this term, and was delighted to contribute to her side’s second win of the league campaign.
“It was an amazing win and so fun to play in,” smiled Denton. “Obviously we went down 2-0, so then scoring five goals in a comeback was really fun.
“[For my goal], it was a great ball from Riko [Ueki] to switch play, and I was running and just had so much space.
“I just carried the ball and Seraina [Piubel] made a great run from wide, and the goal just sort of opened up so I went for it.”
A pulsating first half concluded with Manuela Paví turning the contest around, slotting the Hammers in front with her first goal in the WSL. From a turbulent start to jubilation at the half-time whistle, the Hammers came out of the traps in the second period to put their London rivals to the sword.
On what her Manager said at half-time, Denton said: “She said to keep that momentum that we had at the end of the first half as we turned the game around, and bring it back to them.
“She said just to start the second half strong and not start how we started the first half.”
Denton’s goal was the second time she has found the back of the net in the WSL this season and she had previously joked that she doesn’t know what to do in celebration after scoring.
“It still wasn’t that good of a celebration this afternoon,” she laughed. “I just kind of jumped up and down like a little kid, but that’s what I felt like. I was so excited!”
Denton is hoping the Irons use the momentum from the victory over their London rivals in their games against Southampton in the Women's League Cup and Aston Villa over the next week.
