Hanson bags debut double as WSL campaign begins with a win

The former Aston Villa forward added to Signe Gaupset’s opener in the first half before curling home a sumptuous second 16 minutes from time to put us 3-0 up, with West Ham only managing a stoppage-time consolation from Viviane Asseyi as we enjoyed a thoroughly-deserved London derby victory at Brisbane Road.

Substitute Shekiera Martinez also thought she had a debut goal against her former side towards the end but was denied by the offside flag in an entertaining game that was in stark contrast to our cagey 1-0 win against the same opponents in the opening fixture of last term.

Martin Ho gave debuts to two more of our six summer signings as well, in the form of Caitlin Dijkstra and Victoria Pelova – the latter from the bench – as we controlled proceedings for large spells in the late-summer sunshine.

Gaupset put us in front with the first real chance of the game on 18 minutes, firing in off the far post after the impressive Julie Blakstad nodded a cross down to her in the box. Yu Endo hooked an effort wide for West Ham before a fine move saw us double our lead on the half-hour mark, Cathinka Tandberg playing the ball through the legs of Oona Siren on half-way and setting up Gaupset to roam forward and pick out the run of Hanson, who sent the ball into the net after bursting down the inside left channel despite advancing goalkeeper Constance Picaud-Inconnu getting a touch on it.

Ebony Salmon fired straight at Lize Kop as West Ham tried to respond while both Gaupset and Tandberg tested Picaud-Inconnu in the run-up to half-time, with Tandberg heading straight at the keeper and Blakstad just unable to connect with Gaupset’s cross as we stayed on the front foot after the restart.

Blakstad did manage to reach another cross from a similar position – this one from Hanson – on 65 minutes but diverted the ball just the wrong side of the back post before Hanson sent the crowd wild with a superb third goal for us, picking up the ball in a pocket of space 20 yards out and curling a superb left-footed shot inside the far post.

Matilda Nilden’s angled effort caused problems for Picaud-Inconnu before Martinez bundled in a header from close range, only to be denied by the offside flag. West Ham finished strongly as Asseyi clipped a ball beyond the advancing Kop and just inside the far upright three minutes into the six added on at the end, but we’d done enough to secure three well-earned points.

Line-ups

Spurs (4-3-3): Kop, Dijkstra, Koga (Morris 68), A Nilden, Blakstad, Summanen, Spence (c), Gaupset (Pelova 80), Hanson (Holdt 80), Tandberg (Martinez 59), Vinberg (M Nilden 80). Substitutes (not used): Panengstuen, Ahtinen, Wijk, Pierre.

West Ham United (3-4-3): Picaud-Inconnu, Codina, Riesen, Cascarino, Salmon (Gago 46), Zelem (c), Siren (Kumagai 74), Endo (Belloumou 74), Piubel (Wandeler 60), Ueki (Tennebo 90+2), Asseyi. Substitutes (not used): Walsh, Nystrom, Wareing, Peacock.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Gaupset 18, Hanson 30, 74; West Ham – Asseyi 90+3.

Referee: Abigail Byrne.

Venue: Brisbane Road, Leyton.

Weather: Sunny, gentle breeze, 23 degrees.

Attendance: 1,675.