Hanson & Wilms Score Worldies! - West Ham v Aston Villa Highlights - Barclays WSL 25-26

Cruelly beaten by an 86-minute Beth England penalty in their campaign opener at Spurs, in a game that was low on clear-cut chances and could have easily gone their way. They have gone on to concede 13 more goals in their next three fixtures, including five against Arsenal despite leading early, and four last time out against Chelsea, a game that saw them reduce to 10 players midway through the first half. The bubbles are blowing here east of the capital. Villa have been a little bit better than West Ham this season, and they do have a game in hand. Two draws from their opening three matches sees the Midlanders sit 10th, their most recent point gained at Arsenal in spectacular fashion. Lucy Parker's 94th-minute equaliser, Villa's second-latest goal in the WSL, incidentally earning Natalia Arroyo's team a share of the spoils this after a matchday one draw versus Brighton and a defeat to Chelsea the following weekend. Say tries to get to that but can't, likewise Martinez. Say then does pick it up, Villa lose possession. West Ham players streaming forward and Gorey through the centre here. Tactic to this near side, big opportunity not taken. It was Morgan coming through, maybe just caught in two minds there, I'm not so sure. Yeah, she just needed a tip, exactly. Not sure if she was trying to do right outside of the right boots, just either cross it in or shot, just, you know, either slip it across there with your left foot. You know, Isis running along the back post. Again, you know, it's a perfect opportunity for them. Say to take the corner. Villa have conceded one from a flag kick so far this season. West Ham are league high two, but theirs to attack here. Driven in, touch from Zadorski, still not completely away. It's a little bit of a scramble here in the shot from close in from Martinez. There's the crossbar, quite sure if it didn't sit for her, but she's only just outside the six yard box and you expect her to hit the target. Yeah, you do have the form of last season. You saw Martinez with 10 goals last season in 12 games. West Ham do well to keep it alive. Just feel like they have that space in the wide areas with those wing backs. You know, in terms of especially a lot is coming down or trying to come down this. Villa right hand side, but just use the width. Forwards, Salmon, big chance here for Daly and she can't steer it into the net. It was a difficult opportunity and maybe a flick from a West Ham boot. Typical run from Rachel Daly across the defenders, just couldn't find the net. Yeah, again, Chastity Grant just getting out on this right hand side, giving a bit of width. Salmon inside, just a tiny little poke with the left foot. Could she have gone, you know, into that a little bit more? Swung around, you know, Garry is everywhere. Grant will break forwards here and get the cross in. What an opportunity missed. Well, we were just talking about Kirsty Hansen. A shake of the head, an adjustment of the socks, but she knows that this should have been the game opener for Villa. Again, Grant with the fantastic turn there on Denton, using her pace and power. Again, nice little ball in, Hansen just, she's off balance. Just swipes it. And again, a few clear cut opportunities, but we have had them at both ends. Salmon, strong direct, keeps it in. Who can she pick out here? Cleared off the line. Well, it was a ball across the six yard box that she was hoping someone in Villa colours will get on the end of, as it was. It was blasted behind for a corner, but good strength here. Yeah, much better. She's created, she's finally, you know, found herself that bit of space. I think Hansen is just coming in. She's on the edge of the six yard box. Just the pull back. A start from Villa, mainly in this second half. This is Denton to take the throw. You can see the match stats so far. Six nice time shots to Villa. Seven, Villa with a two on target. Martinez, Joachim underneath the studs, but she still should be able to keep it in play. Mendo to a right if required. Just stepping back on side. Can she deliver the ball? She can. It's a good looking ball as well, and the header. And she got something on it, but not enough. It wasn't an easy chance. She's snooking around the back of the defender. And the diving header was wide on the target. A really good switch of play just to find Joachim. And, you know, Mendo is making that run forward just to provide support. Lovely ball in. She's just strong. Further pressure then for West Ham to try and defend. Hansen takes it short. She's going to get it back here. Good angle maybe. Thumps it towards goal. How about that for a hit? Hansen with a screamer into the top corner. With a short corner routine. Worked an absolute treat. That is something really special. Flew into the top corner. She'll make no chance whatsoever. It's West Ham United nil. Aston Villa one. Fantastic strike. Just a lovely little short corner play. Wilms has been, you know, taking these direct corners and just changing it up this second half. You know, Hansen over the ball. Pass to Wilms. He just slips it into her path. Lovely. As we said, when Hansen is coming off this right-hand side, to have that in-swinger with that left boot goes through a body of players. But again, fantastic strike into the side net. And brilliant, I think Villa has. Who's going to pull rank here? Wilms does take! An absolute stunner! What a hit! Two sensational strikes here for Aston Villa. Have undone West Ham. And that free kick. Unstoppable here. Lynn Wilms gets her first WSL goal. And that is something really, really special. And it's West Ham United nil. Aston Villa two. Fantastic free kick. Just puts it back across the keeper. You know, it's on the keeper's side. Right-footed. And just, wow, into that top left-hand corner. Fantastic strike. Yeah, you would think, can the keeper potentially just give a little bit more? That's what, you know, her wall is on the other side. But you cannot take anything away. And Wilms who's going to battle business in quiet manner, but effective and won't be likewise on this left-hand side. Here she is towards Salmon, who will turn and fire towards goal. Well, it just needed a little bit of bend. Curls, swerve on that one to see it nestled into the corner. Not too far away. Yeah, I really thought I didn't think she was going to get, you know, almost that much power behind it. But as you say, just not enough. Enough curls, slightly off balance. That is full time. And it's going to side of being beaten here. Aston Villa with two brilliant goals from Hanson and Wilms. And all in all, it's the right result. Yeah, I think as the the game was definitely kind of momentum was swaying between both teams. But I think just at the end of the first half, as I said, I just think I just made some tactical changes, which just really solidified. You know, Villa's play going into the second half. And it's Villa that come up, trumps in the capital. Full time here. West Ham United nil. Aston Villa two.