Shekiera Martinez has been voted the Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month for March.
Seeing off Chelsea's Aggie Beever-Jones, Arsenal duo Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, Manchester United's Leah Galton and Maya Le Tissier, and Vivianne Miedema of Manchester City for the accolade, the 23-year-old becomes the first West Ham player to win a WSL Player of the Month award.
Martinez, who signed for the Club in the summer from Eintracht Frankfurt, could not have wished for a better start to life in Claret and Blue. After returning to Chadwell Heath in January, following her half-season loan spell at SC Freiburg, she has featured in every match in all competitions, scoring five goals from the eight games.
Although ever-present since the turn of the year, it was in March that the Irons faithful got to see the best of the Germany U23 international, so far. Returning from international duty after scoring a stunning goal for her country against Netherlands U23s, Martinez was on target against Arsenal at Meadow Park, as she latched on to Verena Hanshaw’s pass before slaloming her way into the box and finishing intelligently.
After helping her team secure a late 1-1 draw with Manchester City and claim derby-day bragging rights against Tottenham Hotspur, which set new women’s team records at Chigwell Construction Stadium, Martinez stole the plaudits at Kingsmeadow when Rehanne Skinner’s side pulled off one of their performances of the season so far at leaders Chelsea.
After her side fell two goals down, the forward chested Riko Ueki’s pass expertly before hammering home beyond Hannah Hampton just before the break - which was nominated for the WSL’s Goal of the Month award.
Having grown in confidence throughout the second period, the Hammers found a deserved equaliser in second-half stoppage time - and it was the No19 again. This time, she met Kirsty Smith’s inch-perfect cross with a well-executed header into the far corner.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Shekiera on winning the WSL Player of the Month award!
