Matthew Appleby was at the Academy Stadium to provide Impetus with this set of images from last night’s WSL match (24/4/23).
Above: Mary Fowler celebrates her first-ever WSL goal with teammates, including her Matildas partner Hayley Raso. Photo: Matthew Appleby.
Manchester City 6-2 West Ham United
Two Chloe Kelly goals in the space of a minute in the opening exchanges set Manchester City on their way to what turned out to be a comfortable win over West Ham United last night.
However, when Emma Snerle’s curler reduced the deficit just four minutes after Kelly’s second, there were thoughts that the East Londoners might just make a real game of it. However, Laura Coombs’ restored City’s two-goal advantage on the 25-minute mark.
Two goals in three minutes after the hour mark from Bunny Shaw and Steph Houghton sealed the outcome despite Lisa Evans’ strike with 13 minutes remaining. Up stepped Matildas star Mary Fowler to score her first WSL goal with eight minutes remaining to ensure City’s four-goal winning margin.
Gareth Taylor’s side move up to second place in the WSL, three points behind leaders Manchester United. However, Chelsea, who were in Champions League action, are just a single point behind and have two games in hand. West Ham slip to eighth, seven points above the drop zone with four matches to play.
Matthew Appleby’s exclusive photo gallery for Impetus:
Teams: MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Keating, Casparij, Houghton, Greenwood, Morgan, Angeldahl, Hasegawa, Coombs, Kelly, Shaw, Hemp. Substitutes used: Castellanos (for Coombs 63′), Ouahabi (for Casparij 70′), Fowler (for Shaw 71′), Raso (for Hemp 75′).
Scorers: Kelly 6′, 7′. Coombs 25′. Shaw 62′. Houghton 65′. Fowler 82′.
WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1): Arnold, Shimizu, Fisk, Cissoko, Smith, Hayashi, Parker, Evans, Brynjarsdottir, Snerle, Asseyi. Substitutes used: Atkinson (for Snerle 70′), Denton (for Smith 70′), Thestrup (for Hayashi 70′), Tysiak (for Parker 82′), Longhurst (for Cissoko 57′).
Scorers: Snerle 11′, Evans 72′.
Referee: Jane Simms.
Attendance: 2,649.
impetusfootball.org 