West Ham rally to beat Albion in League Cup

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Albion sit on three points after two games in the Subway League Cup.

Charlie Hanson

2025-10-08T20:55+01:00

Carla Camacho scored her second goal of the League Cup campaign with the opener against West Ham. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

Our women's team were beaten 2-1 by West Ham in their second game of the Subway League Cup group stage.

Albion took the lead through Carla Camacho, but the Irons responded either side of the break to put themselves three points clear at the top of Group C.

Dario Vidosic made seven changes to the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Tottenham on Sunday, with Rachel McLauchlan, Caitlin Hayes, Rosa Kafaji and Michelle Agyemang keeping their places.

Former Albion keeper Megan Walsh was called into early action when she safely gathered Agyemang’s edge of the box curler, before doing well to tip over Tahirah Heron’s wayward cross that looked for a moment as if it was drifting in.

Carla Camacho wheels away after putting Albion in front at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

She will have been frustrated with the opener though. Kafaji struck the upright from 18-yards, but Camacho was first to the follow up, with her shot slipping through the gloves of Walsh and into the back of the net after 15 minutes.

On loan Kafaji should have added to Albion’s lead with the half hour mark approaching when she won possession inside the Irons’ box as they looked to play out, but she hesitated in getting her shot away which allowed Walsh time to rush out and smother the strike.

The visitors were immediately punished. Manuela Pavi raced down the other end and won a corner, which Albion failed to clear when crossed in and Seraina Piubel smashed in from close range.

Camacho should have added to her tally when she fired wide from Agyemang’s pull back, before Bex Rayner was on the end of a poor challenge from Pavi that saw the former Sheffield United midfielder unable to continue.

Fuka Tsunoda looked to dictate play in the middle of the park. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

The first real chance of the second half should have seen the Irons take the lead with an hour played. Shekiera Martinez raced away down the left before pulling it across for Leila Walder in the middle, but Sophie Baggaley dived down superbly to keep the Swiss international's low effort out.

That prompted Vidosic to call in the cavalry as Marisa Olislagers, Fran Kirby and Charlie Rule came on, but the head coach could only watch on as his team went behind. Hayes's clearance inside her own box was charged down by Riko Lieki and the ball fell kindly for Martinez to convert from the edge of the six-yard box.

Despite a late rally that saw Kiko Seike have a penalty appeal waved away and Walsh tip away Kafaji's curling effort, Albion left Chigwell without anything to show for their efforts.

Albion are next in League Cup action when they face Southampton at Broadfield Stadium on Sunday 19 October.

Albion: Baggaley, McLauchlan (Rule 63), Hayes, Carabali (C), Mpome (Olislagers 63), Tsunoda, Rayner (Noordam 40), Heron (Seike 78), Camacho (Kirby 63), Kafaji, Agyemang.