Last updated on .From the section Women’s Football
Shannon Cooke’s injury-time header earned West Ham a late draw against Aston Villa in Birmingham.
Alisha Lehmann’s flick put the hosts in front at Villa Park, moments after she came on in the second half.
But in the dying moments Cooke glanced Riko Ueki’s cross past Sophia Poor to clinch an all-important point for the relegation-threatened visitors.
If Bristol City fail to win against Manchester City on Sunday evening, West Ham’s WSL safety will be confirmed.
The Londoners, who knew a win would all but seal Bristol City’s relegation to the Championship, looked bright as they set about claiming a crucial three points at Villa Park.
Ueki’s early header was saved by 17-year-old Villa keeper Poor, who was making her full senior debut.
Kirsty Hanson was Villa’s main creative outlet throughout, causing problems for Kirsty Smith and Hawa Cissoko down the left.
The former Manchester United midfielder placed the ball on Rachel Daly’s head early in the second half, but the striker couldn’t add to her tally of seven WSL goals this term, heading over from close range.
But when the next delivery came in from Hanson, Lehmann evaded the West Ham defence before diverting the ball expertly beyond Mackenzie Arnold.
Villa surely thought they had won it but Cooke’s 95th-minute header quietened those celebrations, clinching what could be a pivotal point for Rehanne Skinner’s team.
Line-ups
Aston Villa Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Poor
- 2Mayling
- 4PattenBooked at 64mins
- 14TurnerBooked at 90mins
- 26Maritz
- 8Nobbs
- 25TaylorSubstituted forSalmonat 61′minutes
- 23LeonSubstituted forLehmannat 69′minutes
- 10DaliBooked at 90mins
- 20HansonSubstituted forMagillat 89′minutes
- 9Daly
Substitutes
- 7Lehmann
- 11Gregory
- 17Salmon
- 18Mullett
- 22Magill
- 33Pacheco
- 37Tucker
West Ham Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Arnold
- 2SmithBooked at 27mins
- 23Cissoko
- 5Tysiak
- 14ZadorskySubstituted forCookeat 81′minutes
- 3Shimizu
- 8Snerle
- 19HayashiSubstituted forAdemiluyiat 90+2′minutes
- 16ZiuSubstituted forDentonat 72′minutes
- 9Ueki
- 20Asseyi
Substitutes
- 7Bergman-Lundin
- 12Harries
- 18Denton
- 21Cooke
- 25Walsh
- 30O’Hanlon
- 35Ademiluyi
- Referee:
- Emily Heaslip
- Attendance:
- 4,282
Live Text
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Match ends, Aston Villa Women 1, West Ham United Women 1.
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Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 1, West Ham United Women 1.
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Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women).
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Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Goal! Aston Villa Women 1, West Ham United Women 1. Shannon Cooke (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Riko Ueki with a cross.
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Kenza Dali (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
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Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Princess Ademiluyi (West Ham United Women).
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Substitution, West Ham United Women. Princess Ademiluyi replaces Honoka Hayashi.
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Kenza Dali (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Emma Snerle (West Ham United Women).
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Attempt blocked. Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Emma Snerle with a cross.
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Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Sophia Poor.
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Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Simone Magill replaces Kirsty Hanson.
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Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
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Attempt blocked. Shannon Cooke (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Riko Ueki with a headed pass.
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Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Amber Tysiak.
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Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women).
