Bristol City and West Ham both came into this game having won just one of their first 11 WSL matches this season
West Ham struck a huge blow in the Women’s Super League relegation battle with victory at Bristol City.
The league’s bottom two met at Ashton Gate, and West Ham’s win means they are now three points clear of bottom club City.
Honoka Hayashi fired West Ham ahead in the first half, before Amalie Thestrup equalised shortly after the break.
But Viviane Asseyi squeezed home the winner in the 55th minute for the jubilant visitors.
The Hammers opened the scoring in the 13th minute through a fine low left-footed finish by Japan midfielder Hayashi, who steered home from inside the D after the hosts failed to clear a cross.
Asseyi was then denied a brilliant goal as she volleyed home from 25 yards, only for a foul to be given in the build-up.
But City drew level three minutes after the restart in dramatic circumstances. West Ham thought they had gone 2-0 up when debutant Shelina Zadorsky bundled in from close range, only to be flagged offside.
Bristol took their free-kick quickly and broke down the right, Ffion Morgan racing away and pulling back from the byeline for Thestrup to fire home against the club where she spent last season on loan.
But Asseyi would not be denied as she scored her fourth WSL goal of the season for the winner, slotting through the legs of Shae Yanez after being set free by Jess Ziu.
Bereft Bristol still winless at home
With both sides having accrued just five points from their first 11 league games this season – and starting the day six points adrift of 10th place – this was a genuine must-win match.
It was the Hammers who rose to the challenge as Bristol City continue to make a limp fist of their return to the WSL following promotion last season.
They came close inside the first two minutes, defender Sille Struck narrowly heading over from a corner, and showed resolve to equalise shortly after half-time. But in both cases they ceded control to West Ham soon after.
Lauren Smith’s side have now conceded 31 league goals this season as they still look ill-equipped for the challenge of top-flight football.
Bristol have also now lost all six of their league games at Ashton Gate this season and their last nine at home in the WSL. Yeovil Town’s record of 11 home losses in 2017-18 is worryingly in view.
For West Ham, their status as WSL ever-presents is slightly bolstered by their first league win since victory at Brighton in their second match this term.
It also provided welcome relief for West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner, with this just her second victory in her last 21 matches as a coach, including her previous spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Bristol City Women
Formation 5-4-1
30Yañez2Powell44Murray3Struck6Connolly11Napier29Ward8Rodgers23Jones7Harrison17Thestrup
- 30Yañez
- 2PowellBooked at 90mins
- 44MurraySubstituted forEvansat 38’minutes
- 3Struck
- 6ConnollyBooked at 46mins
- 11Napier
- 29WardSubstituted forMorganat 45’minutes
- 8Rodgers
- 23JonesSubstituted forStratigakisat 87’minutes
- 7HarrisonSubstituted forSymeat 74’minutes
- 17ThestrupSubstituted forHaylesat 87’minutes
Substitutes
- 5Aspin
- 9Hayles
- 13Clark
- 15Bull
- 16Syme
- 18Stratigakis
- 22Evans
- 24Morgan
- 36Slocombe
West Ham Women
Formation 4-3-3
1Arnold3Shimizu5Tysiak14Zadorsky2Smith19Hayashi22Gorry16Ziu12Harries9Ueki20Asseyi
- 1Arnold
- 3ShimizuBooked at 90mins
- 5Tysiak
- 14Zadorsky
- 2SmithBooked at 90mins
- 19Hayashi
- 22GorrySubstituted forCookeat 90+12’minutes
- 16ZiuSubstituted forAdemiluyiat 77’minutes
- 12HarriesBooked at 23minsSubstituted forMewisat 70’minutes
- 9Ueki
- 20Asseyi
Substitutes
- 8Snerle
- 15Mewis
- 18Denton
- 21Cooke
- 25Walsh
- 30O’Hanlon
- 35Ademiluyi
- 41Flannery
Referee:Lauren ImpeyAttendance:6,214
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol City WomenAway TeamWest Ham WomenPossessionHome46%Away54%ShotsHome4Away15Shots on TargetHome3Away6CornersHome2Away2FoulsHome8Away8
Live Text
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Post update
Match ends, Bristol City Women 1, West Ham United Women 2.
- 90’+15′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City Women 1, West Ham United Women 2.
- 90’+14′
Booking
Kirsty Smith (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card.
- 90’+12′
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90’+12′
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United Women. Shannon Cooke replaces Katrina Gorry.
- 90’+12′
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Ella Powell (Bristol City Women).
- 90’+9′
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90’+8′
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women).
- 90’+8′
Booking
Ella Powell (Bristol City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 90’+7′
Post update
Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90’+7′
Post update
Foul by Ella Powell (Bristol City Women).
- 90’+5′
Post update
Katrina Gorry (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+5′
Post update
Foul by Amy Rodgers (Bristol City Women).
- 90’+5′
Booking
Risa Shimizu (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card.
- 87′
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City Women. Sarah Stratigakis replaces Carrie Jones.
- 87′
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City Women. Shania Hayles replaces Amalie Thestrup.
- 87′
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 85′
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Jamie-Lee Napier (Bristol City Women).
- 84′
Post update
Kristie Mewis (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 84′
Post update
Foul by Amy Rodgers (Bristol City Women).
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