MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 7, WEST HAM WOMEN 1
Caroline Weir scored after two minutes and a Nikita Parris scored within the first 17 minutes but that was only the first half as after the break Georgia Stanway also scored twice with Steph Houghton and Tessa Wullaert rounding off the scoring as Manchester City Women routed West Ham Women to go second in the Women’s Super League.
Karen Bardsley, Lauren Hemp, Mel Lawley, Demi Stokes, Megan Campbell, and Pauline Bremer were all on the sidelines as City’s injury list lengthened and Nick Cushing opted for a 4-4-2 line-up with Nikita Parris and Claire Emslie playing as a fast front pair with Caroline Weir and Tessa Wullaert providing width for City.
And City got off to a great start with three goals in 17 minutes, and Caroline Weir had a hand in all three.
Weir struck first for City with a stunning volley from the edge of the West Ham area after a looping ball fell to her less than two minutes into the game.
The Scottish attacking midfielder started the move which ended with City’s goal after seven minutes. Weir’s left wing cross was headed back into the mix by Jill Scott, and Ria Percival’s miskicked clearance was pounced on by Nikita Parris whose inventive back header looped into the net with Rebecca Spencer wrong-footed.
And when Weir came inside she found the space to thread a ball through to Parris who skipped past Spencer and stroked the ball into an empty net from 6 yards out after just 17 minutes.
Weir’s corner was headed wide by Scott five minutes later as City kept up the pressure on the Hammers.
City’s defence held up well to any attempts by West Ham to get into shooting positions, blocking and intercepting incursions before they became dangerous.
City become more expansive with a 3-0 cushion, with the full backs pushing up more and both Weir and Tessa Wullaert coming inside to create overloads but this allowed West Ham chances to get back into the game.
Julia Simic and Alisha Lehmann saw efforts go wide for the Hammers and former City striker Jane Ross found herself one on one with Ellie Roebuck shortly after the restart but the England youngster raced off her line to clear the ball after Ross’ first touch.
Simic sent an effort well over the bar after Ross’ cut back as City continued to cruise in the second half and Brianna Visalli forced a save out of Roebuck to tip her shot wide as West Ham started to play their way into the game.
Wullaert and Gemma Bonner crosses caused Spencer some nervy moments while Georgia Stanway almost wriggled free of Gilly Flaherty on a break and would have had a free run on the West Ham goal had she done so.
Manchester City’s second half goal storm sweeps West Ham away
No need to wait though, as a poor clearance by Spencer fell to Parris and she skipped over the challenge of Brooke Hendrix and produced a fine cross for Stanway to tap in from 3 yards in the 71st minute.
Ellie Roebuck made another save to retain the clean sheet but the game was well and truly up in the 76th minute when Weir’s free kick was met by the head of captain Steph Houghton who made it 5-0.
Stanway scored her second of the match to make it 6-0 with 10 minutes to go after skipping the challenge of Flaherty and slotting past Spencer after a great through ball by Wullaert.
West Ham had their consolation goal with 8 minutes to go, when one of their attacks finally paid off with substitute Esmee De Graaf beating Roebuck from a narrow angle after a fine pass by Ross.
But City’s goal deluge wasn’t over as Wullaert’s 25 yard shot was spilled by the luckless Spencer into her own goal.
And in the middle of all that there had been time for Wullaert’s shot to come off the post but Parris missed the chance of a hat trick with her follow up.
There could have been an eighth for City in added time when Stanway pumped a ball into the area but Houghton flicked the ball wide.
GOALS – Manchester City Women 7, West Ham Women 1
Man City Women 1, West Ham Women 0: 2. Caroline Weir with a stunning volley from the edge of the area, left footed after West Ham failed to clear their lines.
Man City Women 2, West Ham Women 0: 7. A miskicked clearance by Ria Percival was pounced on by Nikita Parris whose back header looped into the net with Rebecca Spencer wrong-footed.
Man City Women 3, West Ham Women 0: 17. Nikita Parris rounded Spencer and slotted into an empty net after a defence splitting pass by Caroline Weir.
Man City Women 4, West Ham Women 0: 71. Substitute Georgia Stanway had a tap-in from 3 yards after Nikita Parris intercepted Rebecca Spencer’s clearance, skipped over Brooke Hendrix’ challenge and her cross from the right was laid on a plate for the young City forward.
Man City Women 5, West Ham Women 0: 76. Caroline Weir’s free kick from the left was attacked by Steph Houghton whose header flew in past Spencer.
Man City Women 6, West Ham Women 0: 80. Georgia Stanway is supplied by Tessa Wullaert from the right, skips the challenge of Gilly Flaherty and scores.
Man City Women 6, West Ham Women 1: 82. Esmee De Graaf scored a consolation goal from a narrow angle on the right as West Ham finally got on the scoresheet after a fine pass by Jane Ross.
Man City Women 7, West Ham Women 1: 86. Tessa Wullaert’s 25 yarder was spilled by Rebecca Spencer into her own net.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 7, West Ham Women 1
Man City Women: Roebuck, Morgan, Beattie, Houghton, Bonner, Scott (Park 86), Walsh, Wullaert, Weir, Parris, Emslie (Stanway 69)
Man City Women Subs not used: Stenson, Nadim, McManus
Goals: Weir 2; Parris 7, 17; Stanway 71, 80; Houghton 76; Wullaert 86
West Ham Women: Spencer, Percival, Simon, Hendrix, Flaherty, Lehmann, Ross, Simic (De Graaf 69), Rafferty, Longhurst (Sampson 90+1), Visalli (Kmita 77)
West Ham Women Subs not used: Moorhouse
Goal: De Graaf 82
Player of the Match: Nikita Parris
Attendance: 1245