West Ham United women’s team left-back Verena Hanshaw certainly enjoyed her first experience of a London derby at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
The 31-year-old, who joined the Club in January from AS Roma, helped open the scoring in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur by rifling a low shot towards goal that deflected off Josefine Rybrink and past Lize Kop.
After the Spurs shot-stopper thwarted Oona Siren, Shekiera Martinez and Katrina Gorry, Rehanne Skinner’s side finally got their second in the 90th minute when Viviane Asseyi curled a right-footed free-kick into the far corner to spark scenes of joy in east London.
The Austria international, in her seventh Hammers appearance, was delighted to chalk up another three Barclays Women’s Super League points and keep her second clean sheet in a West Ham shirt.
“It was amazing,” she said. “I think it was such an important win, and I'm so proud of the whole team.
“We fought until the end, and we also got a clean sheet, which is very important, and I'm super proud.
“It’s super important [to keep a clean sheet]. I think for the defence, a clean sheet is always the best you can reach in a game."
On her strike in the 16th minute, she said: “At first I thought I didn't hit the ball that well, and I thought, ‘Oh, Verena!’ But then I saw it got deflected, and it was in the goal, and I was just so happy."
Confidence is flowing through Skinner’s side, who have lost only one of their last four league matches and set another women’s team record on Sunday, recording their fifth home win of the season - the most they’ve had in a single campaign.
Hanshaw, who hailed the loud Claret and Blue fanbase in Dagenham, feels her team have shown their true potential in recent matches.
“We showed how we can play and how good we are, and I just hope that everyone can take that into the last games,” she said.
“Everyone worked together, and I think everyone could feel that today, and that's why it's really good.
“The fans were incredible today. I heard them throughout the game, and they were so loud. It was absolutely amazing, and I really enjoyed it.
“There’s a lot [of confidence in the team at the moment]. I think we're in a flow, and I hope we can take that flow with us in the next weeks. The last five games will be super important."
