1. Magic Martinez
‘Goal for West Ham United scored by No19, Shekiera Martinez’ was read out over the VBS Community Stadium tannoy four times on Sunday afternoon.
No player in West Ham United women’s team history had notched four goals in a game before, with the last, and only, player to score a Barclays WSL hat-trick in Claret and Blue being Martha Thomas in April 2021.
Martinez got her afternoon underway with a well-placed header from a Verena Hanshaw cross on 18 minutes, and her tally doubled three minutes before the break when she curled an unstoppable effort into the top-left corner.
The 23-year-old didn’t want half-time to come and duly bagged her hat-trick three minutes after she netted her second, this time rounding goalkeeper Shae Yanez before tapping home. She then made women’s team history on 62 minutes, curling the ball home after Viviane Asseyi’s through ball.
Martinez stated she completed the perfect German hat-trick after the game, which is when someone scores three goals in the first half of a match without any other player scoring in between.
2. Eleven games, nine goals
Yes, this is the second thing we loved about Martinez’s performance against Palace.
The Germany U23 international’s four-goal haul took her tally up to nine WSL goals for the campaign, and bearing in mind she made her league debut in January, that is some feat.
Martinez sits proudly in joint-third in the WSL’s top-scorer charts, only three behind leader Bunny Shaw.
3. Another record broken
While we’re on the topic of breaking records, the women’s team set another one on Sunday.
They now sit on 32 goals scored this season, which sets a new WSL season best for the Club, which previously stood at 25 from the 2018/19 season.
Only four teams have scored more this term. Prolific.
4. And another record broken
Don’t worry, we’re not done there.
As well as scoring the most goals in a single season, the 7-1 victory over Crystal Palace marked the women’s team’s biggest-ever victory. It was also the first time the Hammers have netted seven goals in a game.
Another moment of history for Rehanne Skinner’s side.
5. Harries at the double
A late brace from Emma Harries added to the Hammers’ tally in south London on Sunday.
The 23-year-old, substituted on with West Ham 5-0 to the good, was driven and determined to get on the scoresheet. Receiving the ball from her teammate, and close friend, Riko Ueki, Harries shifted the ball on to her right before bending a brilliant strike into the far corner.
Our No12 was all smiles as she netted her first league goal for the Hammers! But she wasn’t done there.
Having released Princess Ademiluyi through on goal with a brilliant first-time pass, Harries continued to charge up the pitch. While Ademiluyi was denied by Yanez, the 18-year-old forward did incredibly well to retain possession before picking out Harries, who rolled the ball into an empty net.
Harries, selflessly, ran straight to Ademiluyi, appreciating the hard work she put in during the build-up to the goal.
6. Take a bow, Viv
It feels harsh only mentioning Viviane Asseyi’s stunning strike this far down in the things we loved list.
The France international had just assisted Martinez’s fourth of the afternoon when she picked the ball up in her own half. With plenty of green space ahead of her, she charged down the left flank before getting her head up and sensing an opportunity. Intelligently, cheekily, but with aplomb, Asseyi pulled off a stunning chipped finish from midway inside the Palace half to make it five on the day.
The goal and assist against Crystal Palace ensured this has been a landmark campaign for Asseyi, as it took her season totals to seven goals and six assists in the WSL - the joint-most contributions made by anyone this season.
7. Five games unbeaten, two to go
That’s now five games unbeaten for the women’s team, having fended off challenges from Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester United ahead of their biggest-ever win.
Skinner’s side do not want to stop there, and they will be targeting more points when they face Aston Villa and Leicester City in the final games of the campaign.
