West Ham 1 Arsenal 9: Roord smashes second hat-trick in two games as Gunners smash 10-woman rivals

JILL ROORD hit her second hat-trick in two games as rampant Arsenal demolished ten-woman West Ham.

Roord put the Gunners ahead only for Kenza Dali to level on 27 minutes in the first WSL game with fans since the start of the Covid crisis.

Striker Vivianne Miedema’s rocket into the roof of the net quickly put the visitors back ahead.

Things then hotted up when Hammers skipper Gilly Flaherty was sent off  on her 50th appearance — for a second yellow for dissent on 37 minutes.

As she marched off, Flaherty roared into the stands: “Please look at the ref’s decisions,” having rightly protested about an offside in the build-up to Miedema’s strike.

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 Miedema hit the woodwork before Kim Little and Beth Mead found the net within two minutes of each other.

After the break, Roord slotted home on 52 minutes before Miedema cracked in another a minute later.

The craziness continued as unstoppable Roord lashed a low drive to claim her hat-trick.

Leah Williamson  kept a cool head to slot home the Gunners’ eighth goal, before a tap-in from Caitlin Foord.

Dutch midfielder Roord said: “It was a great win. The red card killed the game a bit but it’s a great start.

“We want to end the season as high as possible and fight for first place.”

West Ham boss Matt Beard said: “Gilly wears her heart on her sleeve.

“She was frustrated with decision after decision going against us — the referee’s decisions have changed the game. 

“That scoreline can’t happen, regardless, but this can’t continue. 

“Ultimately they are going to cost people their jobs.”