Shannon O’Brien rescued Leicester in stoppage time, snatching a dramatic equaliser to deny West Ham their first Women’s Super League win of the season. The Hammers looked set for victory after Shekiera Martinez opened the scoring in the 51st minute. Substitute O’Brien reacted sharply, slipping behind the defence to tap in Sari Kees’s cross at the far post. The late goal shattered West Ham’s hopes and extended their wait for a league win.
Rehanne Skinner’s side finally earned their first point of the campaign after eight matches. Martinez, last season’s top scorer, gave West Ham the lead by darting ahead of her marker to meet Anouk Denton’s cross at the near post. The strike marked her first goal of the season. However, a lapse in focus at the end cost them dearly, keeping West Ham bottom of the table and level on points with Liverpool, who also conceded late against Brighton. Leicester’s draw stretched their winless streak to six games, but they remain ninth, five points above the relegation zone.
West Ham’s Frustrations Grow as Goals Remain Scarce
West Ham’s scoring troubles continued to haunt them. They had managed only two goals in their first seven matches—one from Viviane Asseyi’s penalty in a 4-1 defeat to Brighton and another from an own goal by Arsenal keeper Daphne van Domselaar. Desperate home fans even chanted for a goal before Martinez finally broke through. Relief swept the stadium as her effort crept past the line.
Despite the breakthrough, Skinner’s frustration deepened as her team let victory slip away in the final seconds. West Ham’s defence stayed compact for most of the match, but they failed to track O’Brien’s late run. The lapse turned a much-improved display into another missed opportunity.
Missed Chances and the Road Ahead
Leicester created few clear openings before O’Brien’s late equaliser. Sam Tierney missed their best chance before halftime, dragging her shot wide. Yet O’Brien punished West Ham’s momentary loss of discipline by converting Kees’s precise low delivery with ease.
West Ham now shift focus to the Women’s League Cup, facing Southampton on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT. Leicester will visit Brighton in league action on Sunday, 16 November, at 12:00 GMT. Both teams seek momentum as their seasons continue to falter.
