Match ends, West Ham United Women FC 1, Birmingham City Women 2.
West Ham WomenWest Ham United Women1B'ham City WomenBirmingham City Women2
Birmingham came from behind to win at 10-player West Ham and move to within two points of third-placed Chelsea in the Women's Super League table.
The match hinged on the sending off of Irons keeper Anna Moorhouse just before half-time for handling outside the box.
Wales international Hayley Ladd curled in the resultant free-kick to cancel out Adriana Leon's close-range volley.
Chloe Arthur punished an error from substitute keeper Becky Spencer at a corner to complete the turnaround.
The Scotland midfielder was in the right place to smash in her first league goal for Blues after Spencer failed to gather Ladd's high looping delivery.
Birmingham's second win in a row meant they took full advantage of Chelsea's WSL absence this weekend, with Emma Hayes' side instead in Champions League semi-final action against Lyon.
It is back-to-back defeats for mid-table West Ham, whose climax to the season takes place at Wembley next month when they face Manchester City in the FA Women's Cup final.
Despite playing more than half of the game a player short, they pushed Birmingham hard.
After going ahead when Kate Longhurst's left-wing cross was turned home by Canada forward Leon, West Ham were on the verge of a half-time lead before Moorhouse's error and Ladd's brilliant strike provided a crucial double blow.
Matt Beard's team defended stoically after the break, Brooke Hendrix and Gilly Flaherty both clearing off the line in a frantic few seconds following another Ladd set-piece.
But they could not quite hold out as Arthur's emphatic finish made sure Blues took home three points.
Line-ups
West Ham Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 13MoorhouseBooked at 41mins
- 3Simon
- 5Flaherty
- 4Hendrix
- 11Rafferty
- 12LonghurstBooked at 45mins
- 20Cho
- 15VisalliSubstituted forSpencerat 43'minutes
- 19LeonSubstituted forRossat 61'minutes
- 8KiernanSubstituted forKmitaat 73'minutes
- 7Lehmann
Substitutes
- 1Spencer
- 9Ross
- 14Sampson
- 16Kmita
B'ham City Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 29Hampton
- 23Scott
- 3Sargeant
- 25Mannion
- 6Harrop
- 4LaddBooked at 31mins
- 13EwersSubstituted forStaniforthat 67'minutes
- 14FollisSubstituted forWalkerat 55'minutes
- 7ArthurSubstituted forScofieldat 86'minutes
- 15Wellings
- 9White
Substitutes
- 1Brooks
- 2Williams
- 8Mayling
- 11Quinn
- 18Scofield
- 20Walker
- 37Staniforth
- Referee:
- Robert Whitton
- Attendance:
- 706
Match Stats
Home TeamWest Ham WomenAway TeamB'ham City Women
- Possession
- Home36%
- Away64%
- Shots
- Home2
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away4
- Corners
- Home1
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Ham United Women FC 1, Birmingham City Women 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Wellings (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Birmingham City Women. Conceded by Brooke Hendrix.
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Attempt blocked. Lucy Staniforth (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Charlie Wellings.
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Attempt missed. Ellen White (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lucy Staniforth.
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Corner, Birmingham City Women. Conceded by Brooke Hendrix.
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Hayley Ladd (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Kate Longhurst (West Ham United Women FC).
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Meaghan Sargeant (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rosie Kmita (West Ham United Women FC).
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City Women. Connie Scofield replaces Chloe Arthur.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Rebecca Spencer (West Ham United Women FC) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ellen White (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
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Attempt saved. Lucy Staniforth (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Claudia Walker.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City Women. Conceded by Brooke Hendrix.
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Foul by Harriet Scott (Birmingham City Women).
Post update
Rosie Kmita (West Ham United Women FC) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Chloe Arthur (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Aoife Mannion.
