The women’s team earned a hard-fought point at Leicester City

The visitors came out in the second half with renewed momentum and had the Hammers on the ropes with their backs against the wall, desperately defending their goal.

After Asseyi headed in Jess Ziu’s cross and Kirsty Smith fired high and wide for Leitzig, Jennifer Foster’s charges went even closer at the other end.

Finnish striker Rantala was once again integral for Leicester in the build-up as her corner found Yuka Momiki who stole a race to her marker but could only deflect her effort into the side netting.

The Foxes had the ball in the net moments later when Janice Cayman put the ball over the line from close range, although she was ruled out after Lena Petermann was adjudged to have fouled Hayashi under the bar.

Saori Takarada then spurned a superb chance when she could only fire straight at Arnold after latching on to Julie Thibaud’s overhead kick, before our Hammer of the Year made two more crucial saves to deny Momiki and Missy Goodwin.

With both sides pushing for a winner, the Hammers had to survive a major late scare as the visitors hit another effort off the bar, but battled to the end to claim a hard-fought point .

West Ham United: Arnold ©, Smith, Cissoko, Tysiak, Shimizu, Denton (Zadorsky 90 +3), Hayashi (Bergman-Lundin 67), Snerle (Harries 46), Ziu (Cooke 80), Ueki (Ademiluyi 90+3), Asseyi
Subs not used: Walsh (GK), O’Hanlon (GK)

Goal: Ueki 13

Booked: Tysiak

Leicester City: Leitzig, Tierney, Howard, Rantala, Petermann, Cayman, Ale, Takarada (Bott 75), Thibaud, Goodwin (Baker 75), Momiki
Subs not used: Kop (GK), Nevin, Palmer, Whelan, Green, Pelgander, Siemsen

Goal: Howard 36

Reserve: Ale, Thibaud

Referee: Abigail Byrne

Present: 1,904