Brighton 0-2 West Ham: Hammers’ intensity helps Rehanne Skinner to first win as boss

Kirsty Smith opened the scoring with her first goal of the season

Goals in either half from Kirsty Smith and Riko Ueki helped West Ham to an impressive victory over Brighton at Broadfield Stadium.

Rehanne Skinner’s first victory since replacing Paul Konchesky in the summer was full of energy and intensity, as her players executed an excellent tactical gameplan.

West Ham’s pressing gave them an early foothold and remained a key theme throughout a physical match.

They should have taken the lead through Smith early on, but she could not keep her shot on target from close range after a mix-up in the home defence.

Yet Skinner’s side did not have to wait long for the opener. With just 12 minutes on the clock, Smith forced a rebound over the line after Sophie Baggaley parried Ueki’s shot from outside the box into her path.

Brighton began to assert themselves as the half went on, but Hawa Cissoko was a solid presence at the back for the visitors.

The Seagulls twice went close through Pauline Bremer just before the break, first with a header and then a powerful shot blocked by Mackenzie Arnold. Their onslaught continued with an Elisabeth Terland effort, but West Ham held on.

The second half followed the same pattern as an energetic and organised West Ham hunted the ball effectively.

Ueki doubled their lead in the 51st minute with her first goal for the club, heading home Lisa Evans’ pin-point free-kick.

Brighton struggled to respond and the outstanding Evans led a swift counter-attack that almost led to a third moments later.

Smith’s day was cut short with a shoulder injury, but even that could not dampen what was a dominant display by the Hammers.

Powerful display kickstarts Skinner’s tenure

West Ham were beaten convincingly by Manchester City in Skinner’s first game last week, and there was a point to prove at Brighton as they recorded just a second win in 14.

The manner of their performance was the most pleasing for the new boss.

Even as Brighton stepped up in the second half, West Ham did not panic. Defender Cissoko was imperious and, in Japan forward Ueki, they look to have a striker who can score goals in the big moments.

Line-upsBrighton Women

Formation 3-4-3

32Baggaley

5Bergsvand2Thorisdóttir16Kullberg

22Robinson6Losada10Olme3Pattinson

11Terland8Bremer9Lee

Substitutes

West Ham Women

Formation 3-4-3

1Arnold

3Shimizu23Cissoko21Cooke

18Denton19Hayashi4Stringer2Smith

7Evans9Ueki20Asseyi

Substitutes

Referee:Amy Fearns

Attendance:1,126

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