United Women 3 West Ham 0

It was Geyse who opened the scoring, before Leah Galton doubled our lead with a superb strike just before half-time, putting Marc Skinner's side in control.

Grace Clinton's header nestled into the bottom corner just after half-time, completing the scoring on her debut for the club.

Maya Le Tissier led the team out for the first time as United Women's new captain and debuts were also handed to summer signings Dominique Janssen, Elisabeth Terland, Celine Bizet and Simi Awujo on a sunny afternoon in M16.

FIRST HALF

The Reds started the match fast and after four minutes had a penalty shout waved away after Terland had her heels clipped in the box

The first real chance of the encounter came in the sixth minute when Galton made a fantastic run down the left and her cross was palmed onto the crossbar by Kinga Szemik.

West Ham found their feet and hit United on the counter in the 16th minute. Anouk Denton charged down the left with Emma Harries in support but her shot was blocked.

Ella Toone's cross was met by Terland who came sliding through the middle but she couldn't turn it in. Moments later, Terland broke forward again but the Norway international dragged her shot wide.

United made the breakthrough in the 28th minute through Geyse, who created the goal through sheer determination and endeavour.

The Brazilan chased after a long ball delivered by Le Tissier and robbed West Ham defender Camila Saez of possession, keeping her nerve to smash it in for our first goal of the season.

Geyse had the opportunity to make it two with a fabulous overhead kick, following a United corner, but the crossbar saved the Hammers.

Just before half-time, the visitors had the chance to level things up as the Reds allowed them to move the ball around on the edge of the area. Ueki's shot was deflected wide for a corner but the Hammers couldn't capitalise on the opportunity.

But deep into four minutes of injury time, Galton punished the visitors and made it two, bringing down Millie Turner's pass on the edge of the area before unleashing a rocket with her right foot.

SECOND HALF

United picked up where they had left off in the second half, playing with great intensity.

The pressure told and, in the 53rd minute it was Clinton - who had returned from last season's loan spell at Tottenham - who headed the ball into the bottom corner after Lisa Naalsund floated the ball into the box.

Tullis-Joyce hadn't been tested all game but as the Reds' defence lived dangerously, she found herself a fraction outside of her area having to rise with West Ham's Harries for the ball. She got their first and headed it away but Harries went down under the challenge and was forced off.

We were firmly in control but as the match wore on, the Hammers applied more pressure. Tullis-Joyce and the United defence, excellently marshalled by captain Le Tissier, thwarted their advances.

A West Ham corner was almost cause for concern for the Reds as we entered the final ten minutes. Saez rose higher than everyone to meet it and her header was just millimetres over the crossbar.

Tullis-Joyce was forced to make a smart save late on to preserve her clean sheet, diving excellently to her right to deny the Hammers and spring United on a counter-attack.

At the other end, Hinata Miyazawa passed to Ella Toone who was unmarked on the left, but her low shot was saved.

The full-time whistle blew soon after, as the Reds began the 2024/25 WSL season in emphatic style.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (C), Turner; Galton (George 83); Janssen (Awujo 77), Naalsund; Geyse (Bizet 66), Clinton (Miyazawa 83), Toone; Terland (Williams 77)

Unused substitutes: Middleton-Patel, Mannion, Ladd, Malard.

Goals: Geyse 28; Galton 45+3; Clinton 53 

West Ham United: Szemik; Tysiak, Saez, Denton, Cooke, Mengwen (Zadorsky 60); Brynjarsdottir (Mewis 45), Gorry (C) (Bergman Lundin 83); Asseyi (Pavi 73), Ueki, Harries (Piubel 60)

Unused substitutes: Walsh, Siren, Houssein