West Ham Ladies gearing up for Essex County Cup final clash against Barking

West Ham Ladies captain Stacey Little admits she cannot wait to lead out the Hammers when they take on Barking in the Essex County Cup Final on Thursday.

The midfielder was given the armband following forward Becky Merritt’s departure in February and told Blowing Bubbles shortly after her appointment that she had targeted the Essex County Cup as a trophy the Hammers could win to help salvage a disappointing season.

“We missed out on the final last year and lost in the final the year before so it's time for us to be reunited with that trophy,” she said. “It's only a few days away now and all the girls are buzzing for the cup final. There's no one who doesn't want to play in this match and everyone has been worried about getting the slightest little knock or twinge because there's just no way that people want to miss the game through injury.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

"Despite everything that has happened this season with all the changes both on and off the pitch, the atmosphere right now is at the best it has been all season. To be able to win silverware after such a turbulent season would show the character of the girls we have right now."

The Hammers will be seeking to win the competition for a third time, having previously lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2011. Barking have also won it twice previously, in 2001 and 2003.

"I'll be nervous but very proud to be leading the girls out - especially as I thought I was going to miss this game after getting injured in the semi final and missing two games," Stacey continued. To walk the team out that I support and care about so much in a cup final will mean a lot to me and my family. It will be the proudest day of my footballing career and it would be great to see as many West Ham fans there as possible."

The Ladies route to the final saw them beat Colchester United 4-0 before seeing off C&K Basildon in a tight semi-final penalty shoot-out which saw ‘keeper Lauren Picton save two penalties and defender Danica Revell slot the winning spot-kick to put the Ladies through to Thursday’s final against Barking.

"We really don't know too much about Barking," Stacey explained. "I know they are a few leagues below us but they have been on a good run of form recently so their confidence will be sky high going into the game. I don't like to focus too much on the opposition though. For me, it's all about us and how we prepare leading up to the game and how we play our game on the night.

"We are, of course, expecting a tough game. It's a cup final and everyone is going to be up for it. Cup upsets happen all the time and although on paper people will say that we should win, Barking will have no pressure on them. We need to give Barking the same respect that we show the teams we play in our league."

The game will kick off at 7.30pm and is being played at AFC Hornchurch’s stadium (Bridge Avenue, Upminster, RM14 2LX). Tickets cost £4 for adults, £2 for children.

The Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Grays, Essex, RM19 1YN. For more information about the Ladies and their upcoming games click here

Goalkeeper Jess Parlane hoping to repeat cup heroics for West Ham Ladies in Essex County Cup final

Teenager Jess Parlane has praised the work of West Ham Ladies goalkeeping coach Julian Roberts in helping her start to fill the void left by experienced shot stopper Toni-Anne Wayne.

The 19 year old joined the Hammers from Chelsea in October and was enjoying training with and watching
Toni-Anne play before she quit the club to join Women’s Super League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion at the end of last year.

Now the former Colchester United Academy player is hoping to cement her place in the starting line up and help the Ladies push up the FA Womens’ Premier League Southern Division.

“When joining, I honestly didn’t expect to be starting for the first team,” she told Blowing Bubbles. “Toni-Anne is a great ‘keeper with much more experience than me. She really helped me with my technique and I learnt a lot from just watching her play. There are other ‘keepers here as well so it was a bit of a shock to have been given a chance to start a few games.

“I was training hard and was doing well in training but I have learnt a lot in the games I’ve played and the more experienced players in the team have helped me immensely.

“What has also helped me is the fact I knew Julian (Roberts) quite well because my sister used to play for West Ham Ladies and he has really helped build my confidence and I feel like my technique has really improved with Julian.”

One of Jess’ best moments playing for West Ham was in the FA Cup 2nd round clash away at C&K Basildon on February 9 when she made a brilliant one handed save in the penalty shootout which sent the Hammers through to round three.

“When it came to my first game for West Ham, I was quite nervous but now I get really excited about playing,” Jess continued. “I was really excited for the Basildon game. It was our first game of 2014 and we had waited a long time to play a game because of the weather. I saved one of the penalties which took us through which I was delighted with.

“We played Watford in the next round a few weeks later but I was too ill to play. We lost 5-1 and I was disappointed we didn’t win but we are all focused on making sure we start winning games again.”

The Hammers have only played five games in 2014 so far and only returned to league action against Charlton Athletic last Sunday.

“It has been really frustrating that we have only played a handful of games this year but the girls have all kept positive and if anyone looks a bit down, the rest of the girls will pick them up,” Jess continued. “I have, however, loved the training. I feel I have progressed loads with Julian since joining. It has also been great to work with the back four during training because it has helped me to get to know how each player likes to play and what they are comfortable doing which has helped me in games.”

She added: “I know we have lost a couple of experienced players in Toni-Anne and Becky Merritt but we still have quite a few players who have a lot of experience and we are still growing as a team.

“This season didn’t start how we would have liked but we have got the chance now to continue to work hard in training and start getting the results we deserve.”

The Ladies have, however, got an Essex County Cup Final to look forward to after another penalty shootout against C&K Basildon on March 9 – a game Jess is desperate to play in.

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

Essex County Cup glory awaits for West Ham Ladies despite departure of manager Mark Saunderson

West Ham Ladies are 90 minutes away from Essex County Cup glory after seeing off C&K Basildon in a semifinal penalty shoot-out.

The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with an early Lily Mellors strike being cancelled out just seconds later by a headed Basildon equaliser.

However, the Hammers emerged victorious after ‘keeper Lauren Picton saved two penalties in the shoot-out and defender Danica Revell notched the winning spot-kick to put the Ladies through.

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Speaking to Blowing Bubbles after the game, Danica said: “I wasn’t nervous about taking the penalty. I was just excited that if I scored then we would go through.

“I have never really taken penalties before and this was the first time I had taken one in a penalty shootout. I think some of the others might have been a bit nervous about me, a defender, taking one but I knew where I was going and confident I’d score because we had practised them before and I always go the same way.

“Now we have got a cup final to look forward to and we are all buzzing for it. It’s going to be a great game and I really can’t wait because it has been a tough season for me.

“I was out for a little while because I had an operation on my foot and then when I came back we had the break over Christmas and didn’t play for ages because of the weather.

“It has also been tough because I have always played with Rosey (Sullivan) so when she left, I had to adapt to playing next to other centre backs. I’ve been playing with Hayley (West) and Jemma (Beard) and we are starting to build good partnerships.”

The only sour note from the cup semi-final was an injury to skipper Stacey Little which forced the midfielder off the field after just 15 minutes. However, a hospital scan revealed that the injury is not as bad as first feared and Little has a fighting chance of leading the Ladies out in the final.

The Irons, who remain under the joint management of coach Steve Spence and director of football Julia Setford after Mark Saunderson's resignation last week, will now take on local rivals Barking in the final, which will be played at AFCHornchurch on 17 April.

Mark Saunderson’s departure came after a largely frustrating season so far which has seen the Hammers win just three games out of 12 in the FA Women's Premier League South.

A club statement, released ahead of the Ladies’ County Cup clash against Colchester United on March 3, read: "We announce with regret that the first team manager, Mark Saunderson has left the club with immediate effect. After speaking with the chairman it was decided that it would be best for both parties and the chairman accepted Mr Saunderson resignation.”

The Ladies returned to Premier League action last Sunday and they lost to Charlton Athletic.

The Hammers are scheduled to take on Keynsham Town and Brighton & Hove Albion at home in the league on March 23 and 30 respectively.

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

West Ham Ladies manager Mark Saunderson quits club

West Ham Ladies manager Mark Saunderson has today followed captain Becky Merritt and goalkeeper Toni Anne Wayne in quitting the club.

The departure comes after the Ladies lost 5-1 at Watford in the FA Cup third round and after a largely frustrating season which has seen the Hammers win just three games out of 12 in the FA Women's Premier League South.

A club statement, released earlier this morning, read: "Today we announce with regret that the First Team Manager, Mark Saunderson has left the club with immediate effect. 

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

"After speaking with the Chairman it was decided that it would be best for both parties and the Chairman accepted Mr Saunderson resignation.

"Today we have an important County Cup Match and Steve Spence with the support of Julia Setford we be in charge."

The Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Grays, Essex, RM19 1YN. For more information about the Ladies and their upcoming games click here

New West Ham Ladies captain Stacey Little targets Essex Cup to salvage season

Midfielder Stacey Little has spoken of her delight at being made the new West Ham Ladies captain and her desire to life silverware this season.

The 26-year-old was given the armband following Becky Merritt’s departure earlier this month and was the star player as the Hammers beat C&K Basildon on penalties in the FA Cup second round.

Speaking exclusively to Blowing Bubbles, she said: “I was so delighted to get the armband because it shows that the manager [Mark Saunderson] trusts me and thinks that I can do a job as captain. Everyone at the club knows how passionate and dedicated I am so it’s a massive honour for me to not only be able to wear the badge every week but to also now lead the team out.”

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Following her stand-out performance against Basildon in the FA Cup, the Ladies are gearing up to take on Watford in the next round. “At the moment we are taking things week by week but I hope we can start pushing ourselves up the league to where we should be,” Stacey continued.

“I hope I will be able to lift some silverware this season and the Essex Cup is one that I have my sights set firmly on. We missed out on the final last year and lost in the final the year before so it's time for us to be reunited with that trophy.

“It has been a tough season with quite a few players coming and going and us not doing as well in the league as what we would have wanted to so to win silverware would give something back to the club and the girls who have stuck with it and worked hard this season.

“I'm feeling positive about the upcoming games and the second half of the season. There has been a good vibe around training with all the girls and without having had many games for so long, the girls were buzzing to get that first game under their belts after so long.”

Asked about goalkeeper Toni Anne Wayne and forward Becky Merritt quitting the Hammers to join Brighton, Stacey added: “I was a little disappointed that they had decided to leave when we really needed stability in the team but I understand their reasons behind leaving and I wish them all the best at Brighton.”

Apart from the Hammers game against Basildon on February 9, the Ladies hadn’t played since losing 4-2 to KIKK United in the London Capital Cup on December 15 and might not return to FA Women’s Premier League Southern action until mid-March.

“It has been massively frustrating for everyone not to have been able to play more games so far this year,” Stacey concluded. “Even more so for me because I had just come back from injury before Christmas and I played a game and a half before the Christmas break.

“I am a bit worried about the back log of games. Mid-week games will have to be scheduled and that, along with training and an eight hour working day before playing a game, will be tiring.”

The Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Grays, Essex, RM19 1YN. For more information about the Ladies and their upcoming games click here