Shekiera Martinez netted four of West Ham United’s seven goals against Crystal Palace to see the Eagles relegated from the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Elsewhere, Liverpool’s Sophie Román Haug bagged a brace to salvage a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and extend the Lilywhites’ winless run to eight.
Nikita Parris came back to haunt Everton after firing an injury-time winner to seal all three points for Brighton & Hove Albion and Jess Park spearheaded Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat of Leicester City.
Hammers hit magnificent seven
Shekiera Martinez four-goal haul saw West Ham United defeat Crystal Palace 7-1 and confirm the Eagles’ instant return to the Barclays Women’s Championship.
Leif Smerud’s side needed to avoid defeat to keep their place in the top flight for at least another week but were left facing an uphill battle after a first-half hat-trick from Martinez.
The German nodded her side in front to open the scoring and doubled her tally with a precise left-footed finish into the top corner.
She added a third after rounding Shae Yanez just before the interval before claiming a fourth of the day just after the hour mark.
Viviane Asseyi then compounded Palace’s misery with a chip after catching Yanez off her line.
Palace pulled one back through an 80th-minute Katie Stengel penalty, only for Emma Harries to strike twice late on to complete the rout.
Martinez, take a bow 👏
Shekiera leaves south London with three points, the matchball and the @BarclaysWSL Player of the Match trophy 🏆⚽️ pic.twitter.com/vMLyzyrb9D
— West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) April 27, 2025
Román Haug rescues Reds
In the early kick-off, Sophie Román Haug netted twice to spare Liverpool’s blushes against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-2 in St Helens.
The Norwegian opened the scoring after reacting fastest to a loose ball into the box after 12 minutes, only for Spurs to turn the tables with a pair of quickfire strikes.
Robert Vilahamn’s side levelled when Grace Fisk’s attempted clearance slid through the gloves of Rachael Laws before taking the lead when Clare Hunt converted Maite Oroz’s cross into the bottom corner.
Román Haug then restored parity six minutes into the second half when she headed past Lize Kop but neither side could find a winner.
It ends level at St Helens Stadium. #LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/7qitIlX4qX
— Liverpool FC Women (@LiverpoolFCW) April 27, 2025
Toffees come unstuck
Nikita Parris struck in stoppage time to secure all three points for Brighton & Hove Albion against Everton and end her side’s three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win.
The Toffees led twice at Walton Hall Park and broke the deadlock through Sara Holmgaard in the ninth minute.
Michelle Agyemang restored parity for Brighton with a close-range finish only for the Seagulls to go behind again when Katja Snoeijs volleyed home two minutes later.
Brighton drew level for the second time when Fran Kirby curled the ball into the net in the 44th-minute after playing a one-two with Parris.
The forward then sealed all three points for the Seagulls when she fired into the bottom of the corner three minutes into stoppage time.
Our match winner! 😁🤳 pic.twitter.com/4JApvixIyD
— Brighton & Hove Albion Women (@BHAFCWomen) April 27, 2025
Park pushes City past Foxes
Jess Park marked her return from a lengthy injury lay-off with a goal to see Manchester City claim all three points with a 1-0 win at Leicester.
She had been set up by Lauren Hemp, who was making her first appearance since November after spending most of the season on the sidelines after a knee injury.
Park fired the only goal of the game to keep City’s Champions League hopes alive as she she stole in at the far post to slide Hemp’s low cross into Janina Leitzig’s goal with 20 minutes left on the clock.
The result sees City move four points within neighbours Manchester United for the third and final Champions League qualification spot, though Marc Skinner’s side have a game in hand.
FULL-TIME | An away win! 💪
🦊 0-1 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/AXERj01zwe
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) April 27, 2025
