Goalkeeper Megan Walsh said she was 'very proud' after captaining West Ham United women’s team for the first time in Wednesday's 2-1 Subway® Women’s League Cup quarter-final win over Tottenham Hotspur at Gaughan Group Stadium.
Martha Thomas headed home to put Tottenham ahead in the opening stages in east London, but two goals in five minutes from the Hammers, with Seraina Piubel and Kirsty Smith the goalscorers, turned the game in our favour on the stroke of half-time.
For Walsh, who faced 20 shots and herself made seven saves, including one stunning reaction stop to deny Matilda Vinberg seven minutes from full-time, the quarter-final tie had added significance because she skippered the Hammers.
The 30-year-old, who was perhaps nearly rendered speechless, revealed how humbled she was to be selected to wear the armband and lead her team through to a League Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
“I’m very proud, said Walsh. “It's a big thing leading the team out, and this bunch of girls are great, so it's a nice feeling.
“It's a good feeling [to get into the Subway® Women’s League Cup semi-finals], and the girls worked their socks off tonight, throwing their bodies on the line, just getting in front of the ball, and really helping me out.
“We could hear them [the fans]. They were really helping in the second half and were down at the end we were defending as well. They really spurred us on and kept us going until the final whistle.”
Walsh made an excellent stop in the opening period to deny Hayley Raso, and several more ensured first-half goals Piubel and Smith were enough for the Hammers to progress to the final four. Arguably her best save came seven minutes from time, when she flung herself to the right and tipped Vinberg's effort from point-blank range over the crossbar.
It was only the goalkeeper's ninth West Ham appearance, as she has mainly served as an understudy since signing for the Club in August 2023.
“They [the saves] were just instinct, to be honest,” Walsh added. “The cross came in, and I just focused on the player and was ready to react to it. The save [in the second half] I just set early and reacted from it because I knew she was just going to smash it at me.”
Walsh will hope for further opportunities this season, with an FA Women's Cup fourth-round tie at home to Liverpool on Wednesday 29 January to look forward to, while she will continue to challenge Poland international Kinga Szemik for the starting place between the sticks in the Barclays Women's Super League.
