West Ham United Women were victorious on their opening match of the 2022/23 Barclays Women’s Super League season.
In a game that lacked clear cut chances, Lisa Evans made sure she took her chance when it came – heading in the only goal of a tightly contested match at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Paul Konchesky named an attacking line-up for his first competitive match in charge of the Hammers.
The new boss handed debuts to Kirsty Smith, Risa Shimizu, Jess Ziu, Honoka Hayashi and Viviane Asseyi as the Irons went in search of an opening day win.
Having dominated possession in the opening stages in east London, Konchesky’s team were looking to carve out the game’s first real opportunity.
It came after a charging run from Jess Ziu, who found a ball inside to Viviane Asseyi. The forward fired a shot towards goal that Lisa Evans tried to head the ball home, but the flag was raised on the far side.
Up the other end, a good Everton move should have resulted in the opening goal of the game, but Hanna Bennison took too long as she glided into the area, with Hawa Cissoko and Lucy Parker able to stop the Swede in her tracks.
Evans tested Brosnan from close range, whilst Hayashi headed narrowly wide as the Hammers continued to knock on the Everton door.
And the goal would arrive just before half-time – Evans headed home after confusion in the toffees penalty area to give her side the lead before the whistle sounded.
In the second half, it was much of the same for the home side, as they looked more likely to add to their lead. Skipper, Dagný Brynjarsdóttir went close with a header on 52 minutes as the continued to push Everton back.
The Hammers remained solid in the contest throughout, although they did survive a scare on 74 minutes when Lucy Parker had to head way a fierce shot from substitute, Jess Park.
Everton started pushing on in the closing stages, but they couldn't find a way past a solid West Ham defence, that cleared away the advances from the away side.
The Hammers would hold on in the closing stages to take all three points – with Konchesky getting off to the best possible start.
West Ham United: Arnold, Smith (Fisk 82), Parker, Cissoko, Shimizu, Longhurst (Walker 63), Brynjarsdóttir, Hayashi, Ziu (Kyvag 90+2), Evans, Asseyi.
Subs: Hillyerd, Stringer, Filis, Kyvåg, Fisk, Houssein, Flannery.
Everton: Brosnan, Veje, Sevecke, Bjorn, George (Maier 89), Beaver-Jones (Park 72), Graham, Bennison (Queiroz Costa 72) Galli (Christiansen 57), Snoeijs, Stenevik.
Subs: Ramsey, Finnigan, Weir.
Goals: Evans 44
Bookings: Cissoko 43, Brynjarsdóttir 47
Referee: Lauren Impey
