Summary

  • FT: West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

  • Up to 1,000 fans allowed at game in crowd pilot

  • Arsenal beat Reading 6-1 in opening match, West Ham drew 1-1 with Spurs

  • Five more WSL games on Sunday

  1. Thanks for joining uspublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    That's about it from the WSL today. Cheers for your company.

    See you again tomorrow, starting with our BBC TV game, Chelsea v Bristol City [12:30 BST kick-off].

    Until then, the whole sport will hope today's crowd pilot proves to be a success.

    For Arsenal, the success on the pitch continues. They've made a ruthless start to the season. Have a good evening, folks.

  2. Daly appears hurtpublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    FT: West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

    Worrying for West Ham as well with be the fact that England's Rachel Daly - who made her first Hammers start today - is leaving the pitch with her shoulder in some sort of sling and strapping.

    We'll keep you updated on that if we can, this week.

  3. Beard 'desperately disappointed'published at 19:26 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    FT: West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

    West Ham boss Matt Beard tells BT Sport:

    "I've heard that it [the second Arsenal goal] was offside which is frustrating.

    "The referee's decisions have changed the game today. That scoreline can't happen, regardless, but this [mistakes from officials] can't continue. Ultimately they are going to cost people their jobs.

    "When you play against top teams and these decisions go against you, it's gets harder. It is what it is.

    "It was great that fans could be there today but obviously I'm desperately disappointed at the scoreline for them."

  4. Postpublished at 19:23 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    FT: West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

    The attendance at this pilot crowd event - the first in English league football since coronavirus - has been confirmed as 734.

    A maximum of 1,000 fans were permitted by the government.

  5. Roord reacts to 'great win'published at 19:18 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    FT: West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

    Arsenal's hat-trick star Jill Roord tells BT Sport:

    "It was a great win. The red card killed the game a bit, but it's a great start.

    "I'm really happy [to get another hat-trick].

    "We want to end the season as high as possible and we're going to [fight] for first place."

  6. FT: West Ham 1-9 Arsenalpublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    West Ham boss Matt Beard looks very, very fed up as he exchanges socially-distanced fist-pumps with the officials. His frown says it all.

  7. FULL-TIMEpublished at 90+3 mins

    West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

    It's a brutal defeat for 10-player West Ham. Arsenal, meanwhile - what a start to the new season for them.

    Two games, two wins, 15 team goals and two hat-tricks for Jill Roord. Remarkable.

  8. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

    Another rendition of I'm forever blowing bubbles comes from the stands.

    Fair play to these West Ham fans,

  9. Postpublished at 90+1 mins

    West Ham 1-9 [nine] Arsenal

    Three minutes of added time have been signalled. Three more minutes of suffering for the Hammers.

  10. Postpublished at 89 mins

    West Ham 1-9 Arsenal

    And still Arsenal keep coming forward. They're relentless.

    To remind you, they won 6-1 last weekend.

    The 2019 champions are making a big statement of intent as they bid to become 2021 champions.

  11. goal

    GOAL: West Ham 1-9 Arsenalpublished at 86 mins

    Caitlin Foord

    Australia forward Caitlin Foord has her first goal in the WSL and Arsenal have their NINTH of the afternoon.

    It's far, far too easy. Lisa Evans is played through on the right with more space than the solar system, nowhere near a West Ham defender, and she runs towards goal and unselfishly squares the ball to Foord to tap home.

  12. Postpublished at 83 mins

    West Ham 1-8 Arsenal

    Danielle van de Donk sends an ambitious long-range half-volley well wide, as Arsenal wind down towards full-time and a very easy three points.

    West Ham looked well in this game early on, but capitulated in defence after Gilly Flaherty's red card.

  13. Postpublished at 78 mins

    West Ham 1-8 Arsenal

    West Ham had won three straight home games in the WSL before this game - at the end of last season - but if they get eight goals in the final 12 minutes to win this one as well, I'll eat my hat.

  14. Postpublished at 74 mins

    West Ham 1-8 Arsenal

    Just the 14 goals for the season so far then for Arsenal, less than two full WSL games in to the campaign.

  15. goal

    GOAL: West Ham 1-8 Arsenalpublished at 72 mins

    Leah Williamson

    England defender Leah Williamson makes it EIGHT as she calmly hits the back of the net on the rebound from inside the area.

    It's been a day to forget for 10-player West Ham's defence.

  16. GREAT SAVE!published at 71 mins

    West Ham 1-7 Arsenal

    Well played Mackenzie Arnold, who makes a fine diving save to keep out Danielle van de Donk's half-volley. She's had a fairly good game, despite the scoreline.

  17. SUBSTITUTION (West Ham)published at 68 mins

    West Ham 1-7 Arsenal

    Having seemingly halted the stream of Arsenal goals, West Ham make another change, as Ruby Grant replaces Switzerland's Alisha Lehmann.

  18. Postpublished at 65 mins

    West Ham 1-7 Arsenal

    West Ham fansImage source, Getty Images

    If their team's result was a factor in determining whether this fans pilot event was a success, you suspect we might not be seeing West Ham fans back at game long-term for a while!

    However, in reality, the fans do seem to be enjoying this chance to see live action for the first time in six months. They're making plenty of noise.

  19. 'Roord looks hungry for goals'published at 18:40 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    West Ham 1-7 Arsenal

    Samantha Miller
    Ex-Tottenham, West Ham and London Bees player on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Last season we saw Jill Roord give and go and do some nice turns, but she looks hungry for goals now.

    It's amazing what an improvement there's been.

  20. TRIPLE SUBSTITUTION (Arsenal)published at 59 mins

    West Ham 1-7 Arsenal

    Winning, 7-1, how about this for a triple subsitution.

    Danielle van de Donk, Lisa Evans and Caitlin Foord all come on the visitors.

    Kim Little, Beth Mean and hat-trick sensation Jill Roord all come off for a rest.

    Roord scores three times and then comes off before the hour mark? That's what I call a mic drop.