Captain Rosey Sullivan's plea for West Ham Ladies to maintain unbeaten run

West Ham Ladies captain Rosey Sullivan has called on her teammates to pick up maximum points in their next two games and extend their unbeaten run in the league to six games.

The 20-year-old has been in impressive form of late and has formed a strong partnership with fellow centre half Danica Revell which has helped the Ladies pick up 10 points in their last four games.

The pairing looked particularly strong against Tottenham Hotspur Ladies’ pacy forwards earlier this month, keeping a clean sheet as the Hammers ran out 1-0 winners.

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Rosey said: “It was a great win against Tottenham and a great team performance. I felt we really clicked as a team for the first time this season and I was, obviously, delighted with the clean sheet.

“I didn’t play in the last game against Tottenham in the league cup which we lost but I was told their wingers were brilliant that night and I thought we did well to keep them quiet.

“We’ve now got Lewes and Yeovil in the league which I think are both very winnable games for us. We will go into both these games pushing for all three points and we have to keep the same fighting attitude for ever y game.”

She added: “All games in this league are a battle and both Lewes and Yeovil are big sides and quite aggressive so I’m hoping we can get the ball down and play around them.”

This is Rosey’s first season as captain but admits it’s a role she loves and wants to keep for the rest of the season.

Referring to her partnership with Danica, she continued: “I think this is the third season we have played together now and I love having her next to me. We both went to the same academy - Leyton Orient Centre of Excellence – so we were taught to play the same way which has helped us to forge this partnership.

“I feel she does the same job as me and stops me from worrying because I know she’s got my back. She is the only centre back I’ve really enjoyed playing with because she is such a strong player and I think people like the way we play together.

Hopefully we can continue to play well together.”

The captain has also been impressed by the performances of goalkeeper Toni Anne Wayne this season.

She continued: “It’s great to play in front of Toni. She has been a big player for us so far this season, pulling off some great saves and she is always talking to me.

She added: “Her penalty save in the Tottenham game was brilliant. I was amazed she managed to get there because it was right in the corner and that save was really the difference between us getting three points and just one.”

West Ham Ladies are playing at home to Lewes in the FA Womens’ Premier League Southern Division on Sunday. The game kicks off at 2pm.

The Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Grays, Essex, RM19 1YN.

Best is yet to come from West Ham Ladies midfielder Stacey Little

Ask the West Ham Ladies who has been their best player so far this season and midfielder Stacey Little would top most of their lists but the 25-year-old has vowed the best is still to come from her.

The former Charlton Athletic player has started every game for the Ladies so far this season and even bagged a goal in the League Cup – a goal she confesses is probably one of the best she has ever scored.

“I’m very tough on myself,” she said. “I expect to have a great game every week but I would rather play average and win then have a great game and lose because we’re determined to get promoted this season and three points from every game are all that matters.

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“I thought, for example, I played really well against Millwall at the start of the season but we lost and for a West Ham fan, I was devastated to lose against them.
“For me to keep my place in the team, I have to ensure I have a good game every week and although I’m reasonably pleased with my start to the season, there is much more to come from me.”

Moving swiftly onto the other teammates, she continued: “I think Bex [Becky Merritt] has done really well this season.

“She has done well up top but if we have been missing players, she has stepped into their positions and done really well. She has also been banging in the goals.

“The funny thing with Bex is that she will miss an easy chance but then score an absolute screamer. I’m tipping her to have a great season.

“I have also been impressed with Toni [Anne Wayne]. I played with her at Charlton so I already knew her but she has come in and done really well this season and made some important saves.”

Striker Kelley Blanchflower, who broke her collar bone against QPR last month, is another player who caught Stacey’s eye this season.

“She was fantastic in pre-season and took that form into the season,” she said. “She wasn’t scoring as many goals that she would like to have done in the first few games but that doesn’t take anything away from her performances.

“She has been brilliant and her getting injured is a big blow for us. But I’m sure after Christmas, she will be back and fighting fit.”

The Ladies next face rivals Spurs in the league on Sunday (KO 2pm) having already played them once this season, drawing 1-1 in the league cup.

“We under-performed in our last game against Spurs,” Stacey continued. “I’m sure we will be reminded of this performance in the changing room before our game on Sunday and hopefully we can go out there and get the three points we need and want.

“The league is the most important thing for us this season. We haven’t got off to the start we would’ve hoped for but then we didn’t last season and we were still pushing for promotion at the end.

“If we get promoted this season and don’t get to any finals or win anything else then I will be delighted – as I’m sure the others will be too.”

From hero to hospital: West Ham Ladies striker Kelley Blanchflower

West Ham Ladies picked up three valuable points in their last league outing away at QPR but, despite scoring, striker Kelley Blanchflower was left bitterly disappointed.

The 19-year-old was still buzzing after scoring her first goal of the season when, just before half time, she broke her collar bone after pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the QPR penalty box and being fouled by a QPR player.

The former Arsenal player will now watch from the stands for six weeks while she recovers.

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“I’ve got mixed emotions about the QPR game,” she said. “Last year I had scored a few more goals at this stage of the season and I had been getting frustrated so when I scored, I was really happy.

“But then just before half time, this girl took me out from behind, I landed on my shoulder and broke my collarbone. I was then taken to hospital but found out later the girls had seen out the game and at the end of the day, the most important thing was to get the three points.

“I was a bit upset that I got injured because I worked hard in pre-season to get fit and then this happens so early into the season.

“I’ve been told I will be out for six weeks but I might be back earlier and as far as injuries go six weeks is not that long.”

Blanchflower had set herself a target of netting 20 goals this season but now accepts she will struggle to hit that with six weeks off injured.

She continued: “I’m also not expecting to walk back into the team. If someone else is playing well and scoring goals then I can’t complain.

“I will just have to focus on training hard and fight to get my place back. I just want to get back on the pitch.”

 Asked who has impressed her so far this season, Blanchflower replied: “Our goalkeeper Toni. I’ve never played with her before but whenever she is called into action she is really good.

“I’ve also been impressed with Stacey Little. She has been so dominant in the middle, winning everything in the air and controlling the midfield. Plus she scored an amazing header against Spurs which saved us.”

Looking ahead to the Ladies’ next game against Watford in the League Cup, the striker continued: “It will be a tough game. We played them during preseason and because they struggled last season, we thought we stood a good chance of beating them or at least getting a draw and they beat us comfortably which was a bit of a reality check. But on our day we can give anyone a game.”

Sunday’s clash against Watford will take place at 2pm at Berkhamsted FC, Broadwater, Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2AL

West Ham Ladies gathering momentum in FA Women's Premier League South

West Ham Ladies have had a mixed start to their Premier League Southern Division campaign but striker Becky Merritt hopes their season can now kick on as they push for promotion.

The Ladies lost their opening game of the season away at Millwall Lionesses but bounced back against Brighton last weekend with a 2-0 win with one of the goals coming from the 26-year-old.

Now the Ladies are gearing up to start League cup campaign with a group game at home against Tottenham on Monday, kicking off at 7:45pm.

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“We had a couple of players out for the Millwall game and they are the type of team who away from home will always give you a battle and we didn’t really turn up,” she said.

“We played ok but compared to our usual standard, it wasn’t good enough. We conceded a sloppy goal and it was just one of those days where no matter what we threw at them, we just couldn’t score.

“No-one likes to lose especially to Millwall so we got back into training and worked hard and discussed what we had to do to put it right.”

She continued: “I was quite nervous approaching the Brighton game because they have been a bit of a bogey side for us recently but right from the off we went at them.

“The manager outlined what she wanted from us early doors and we went for it full throttle. We pressed them all over the pitch and we looked comfortable knowing we had the upper hand and it was a good win for us.

“I have been playing centre midfield over the last two games so it felt really good to score and get my first goal of our league campaign.

“Looking ahead to Monday night and our league cup game against Spurs, we are going for the win but they are a decent side and it will be an interesting game.”

She added: “Carly Roache, one of our fantastic centre midfielders, is back in training which is great news for us.

“She was out for most of pre-season through injury but doesn’t look out of shape or off the mark which is very positive.

“Emma Thomas is also back from holiday and it’s all starting to come together nicely.

“We are also still getting a lot of calls from potential new players which is exciting and it’s good people are noticing what we are about and what we want to achieve.”

High hopes ahead new West Ham Ladies campaign

West Ham Ladies kick off their Premier League Southern Division campaign against Millwall Lionesses on Sunday and forward Becky Merritt cannot wait for the season to start.

The 26-year-old has already bagged two goals in three pre-season friendlies and after scoring 11 goals last season, hopes to net 20 times this season to help the Ladies secure promotion to the National Division.

“We hit the ground pretty hard in pre-season,” she told Blowing Bubbles. “Training has been stepped up a gear and it’s been intense but a good intense if that makes sense?

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“We’ve also been playing pre-season friendlies against teams from the league above because that’s where we want to be next season and we wanted to match ourselves against them to see how we got on.

“It’s fair to say the games were tough but I don’t think we would be too far off the standard required if we stepped up next season.

“We had quite a few people away on holiday so we didn’t have a consistent squad the whole way through  and I think our biggest issue would be adjusting to the pace because it’s slightly quicker in the league above.”

Moving onto the Ladies’ opening fixtures, she continued: “We start with a trip to Millwall which is a great game for any West Ham fan. We can’t wait for it and we won’t need psyching up for this game that’s for sure!

“We played them twice last season and beat them both times but that is not to say we will walk over them this time. It will be a tough game but we will be going into it wanting a win.

“The following week we have Brighton which will be an even tougher game because we are very evenly matched and they appear to be our bogey team going by recent results.

“However the girls are looking forward to it because we feel like we owe them one.”

Following these tricky games, the Ladies will turn their attention to the league cup and a visit of
rivals Tottenham Hotspur on September 2.

The Ladies have also welcomed goalkeeper Toni Anne Wayne and midfielder Emma Thomas back to the club.

Becky continued: “Toni is a fantastic talent. She is very experienced and we are lucky to have her back.

“As for Emma, she is also an exceptional player. I love playing with her because I know she can read me quite well. I think both girls are very passionate and the supporters will love them.

“We’ve also got a few youngsters stepping up this year which is really pleasing to see. To have them come through the ranks and pushing for places at such a young age is fantastic for this club.

“We know they will give 110% and they will learn from the older members of the squad as we push for promotion this season.”

Millwall Lionesses V West Ham Ladies will be played at Beckenham Town FC and will kick off at 2pm on Sunday.