Matt Beard was pleased with his West Ham United side’s character and resolve in Wednesday’s penalty shoot-out win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Irons found themselves 2-1 down heading into the final ten minutes of their opening Continental League Cup Group D fixture, but the drive in the team led to captain Gilly Flaherty’s headed effort levelling the game.
With the group stages going to penalties when any game ends level after 90 minutes, the Hammers would secure a 4-2 shoot-out win after Emily van Egmond, Ruby Grant, Maz Pacheco and Alisha Lehmann all converted from the spot, giving the Irons an extra point to take back to east London.
Although there are elements to work on still, according to Beard, the team can be happy with how they performed in this midweek content.
I think we should a lot of good character to come back into the game after going 2-1 down. We had a couple of other chance too afterwards where we maybe could have won it.
Matt Beard
“The penalty shoot-out cost us last year when we played at home to Tottenham, where we were unable to get that extra point,” Beard told whufc.com. “We worked on it yesterday, so it was pleasing to see that work come off.
“I think we should a lot of good character to come back into the game after going 2-1 down. We had a couple of other chance too afterwards where we maybe could have won it and taken three points.
“It’s frustrating to concede from two set plays, but tonight’s match is a step in the right direction for us.”
The Hammers had taken a deserved first half lead at the People’s Pension Stadium, courtesy of a first goal in Claret and Blue for summer signing Rachel Daly.
Beard is delighted with how the England international has settled into life with West Ham as well as his team’s ability to create chances.
“Rachel has been brilliant,” he added. “Since day one, she’s come in and she’s shown her talent. It’s good for her to get her goal tonight because now she can relax a bit. She’s got the first one and it’s ticked off.
“There are still relationships to be developed in the final third. Emily van Egmond played in that more advanced role in this game, but the pleasing thing is how many chances we are creating when we’re going forward.
“The thing now is to make sure we’re finishing them off. The hardest thing in the game is to score goals. If we weren’t creating chances then I’d be worried, but we are, and it’s a process. It might just take a little time, but we’ve got a good team that can compete with anyone.
“I’ve got one or two missing at the moment, so I haven’t been able to rotate as much as I’d like to have. But tonight’s performance and result is a positive step and we need to take that forward into this weekend’s game.”
