It's a Green day as Albion claim vital victory

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Kayleigh Green's header earns us a 1-0 win over West Ham in the WSL.

Bruce Talbot

2023-05-07T12:24:00Z

Poppy Pattinson celebrates with Veatriki Sarri after she put Albion ahead.

Albion moved up to ninth in the WSL after a second-half header from Kayleigh Green earned them a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday.

The Welsh international’s first goal of the season gave Albion a five-point cushion above Reading, who occupy the relegation place after losing 5-0 at home to Aston Villa.

In a game of few clear-cut chances Albion defended resolutely to keep their first clean sheet of the season and can now look forward to entertaining title chasers Arsenal on Wednesday. It was also their sixth successive win against the Hammers.

Katie Robinson is challenged by United defender Lisa Naalsund.

Melissa Phillips had made four changes to the team that drew with Spurs last time out including an enforced one when goalkeeper Lydia Williams was injured in the warm-up and Megan Walsh returned in goal. Guro Bergsvand, Julia Zigiotti and Green also came into the XI.

The first 20 minutes were pretty scrappy with neither side offering a great deal in the attacking final third but gradually Albion got on top.

They have threatened from set pieces in recent weeks and Megan Connolly's 24th-minute free kick from the right was flicked on by Elisabeth Terland to Bergsvand, whose shot was grabbed at the second attempt by keeper Mackenzie Arnold.

Geummin Lee is congratulated by Maisie Symonds after scoring Albion's consolation.

Katie Robinson did superbly down the right 12 minutes later to keep the ball in play and pull it into Terland’s path. She neatly sidestepped Hawa Cissoko to create space for a shot which was heading in until Dagny Brynjarsdottir hacked it clear.

The home side had got on top but they had a let-off five minutes before the break. Walsh failed to punch Lisa Evans’ cross away and the ball dropped to Brynjarsdottir, whose volley was headed off the line by Zoe Morse.

Albion had to readjust in first-half stoppage time when Jorja Fox limped off and was replaced by Poppy Pattinson and the initial stages of the second period were pretty sterile.

Poppy Pattinson holds off Ceri Holland.

But then Albion broke through with a great goal on 58 minutes. Zigiotti dispossessed Anouk Denton and found Robinson who crossed early for an unmarked Green to power her header over Arnold and into the roof of the net. It was Robinson’s sixth assist of the season.

It was now a case of whether Albion could defend their hard-fought advantage. West Ham committed more players forward but the hosts, with Bergsvand and Zoe Morse impressive in the centre, held firm and Walsh did not have a serious save to make in the second half.

The Albion team line-up during the playing of the National Anthem, to mark the Coronation.

Phillips made three more changes to freshen things up and Albion were happy to soak up pressure and hit West Ham on the break. They negotiated five minutes of stoppage time pretty comfortably to claim a precious three points.

Albion: Walsh, Fox (Pattinson 45+3), Morse, Bergsvand, Kullberg, Green (Sarri 77), Connolly, Zigiotti, Robinson, Lee (Carter 86), Terland (Stefanovic 86).