West Ham United booked their place in the fifth-round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
A brace from Claudia Walker and goals from Mel Filis and Dagny Brynjarsdottir secured the win, all without manager Olli Harder, who was forced to miss the match after reporting a positive Covid-19 test.
Mel Filis gave the Hammers the lead after four minutes, but they were immediately pegged back by the FA Championship side – Bex Rayner scoring after a swift counter attack by the Blades.
Sheffield United had further chances to take the lead, but Claudia Walker settled some nerves when she scored what would be her first of the afternoon on 21 minutes.
The forward scored a second just after half-time, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir came off the bench to secure victory with a well taken header to add West Ham United to the draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup.
It was a fast start at Bramall Lane, as the Irons looked to impose themselves early on. Fantastic work from Katerina Svitkova resulted in Sheffield United goalkeeper Fran Kitching pushing the ball onto the crossbar, which left Mel Filis with the easiest of tap ins from close range.
However, the lead was short lived as the Blades attack linked up well to find Bex Rayner for an easy finish to bring the game level on six minutes.
The game then settled down, with the Hammers looking to control the play and create opening out wide through Katerina Svitkova and Lois Joel. The home side were looking to counter at every opportunity, flooding players forward whenever they regained possession.
After a period of very little chances for either side, West Ham got themselves back in front. Lois Joel played a great ball to the back post for Svitkova, who’s effort was initially saved by Kitching, but Claudia Walker followed in the strike and was able to prod the ball home.
The home side continued to cause a threat for the Hammers backline. Courtney Sweetman-Kirk went close to grabbing a second, but she sliced her effort wide of Anna Leat’s goal.
And the 31-year-old forward should have scored just before the break, when a wicked ball in from Lucy Watson landed at her feet, but she couldn’t re-adjust in time and the ball flew over the bar.
In the second half, Sheffield United went close from an early corner kick that almost troubled Anna Leat, but Gilly Flaherty was there to clear the ball away from danger.
Svitkova and Walker then went close in quick succession as the Hammers looked to add to their lead and put some daylight between them and their opponents.
And that third goal did eventually arrive eleven minutes into the half. Joel received the ball out wide from Emma Snerle and whipped a cross in towards Walker and the forward was there to tap the ball home.
Dagny Brynjarsdottir was introduced on the hour mark, and only took three minutes to get amongst the goals. The Icelandic midfielder headed home from inside the area after a superb cross from Lisa Evans to extend the lead
And the Hammers continued to dominate right up until the full-time whistle, with the legs of the home side tiring after such an exuberant display in the opening hour of the game.
The Hammers will now wait to see who they will face in the fifth round of the competiton, with the draw talking place on Monday 31 January, live on TalkSPORT 2 at 7:30pm.
Sheffield United: Kitching, Robert, Lipka, Sweetman-Kirk (Wilcock 82), Cusack, Watson (Clarke 56), Paul, Rayner, Rolandsen (Docherty 67), Bradey-Auckland ©, Walters (Lord-Mears 67).
Subs: Wilson, Enderby, Taylor, Walton.
Goals: Rayner 6
West Ham United: Leat; Flaherty (c), Fisk, Parker (Longhurst (60); Svitkova (Evans 72), Joel; Stringer, Houssein (Brynjarsdottir), Filis (Cairns 79), Snerle (Wyne 72); Walker.
Subs: Moore.
Goals: Filis 4, Walker 21, 56, Brynjarsdottir 63.
