West Ham centurion Kate Longhurst believes West Ham are on track to close the gap with the league’s top sides next season.
Longhurst, 33, issued her optimistic assessment after the Irons’ season closed with a 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on the final day of the Barclays FA WSL season—with Chelsea taking the title for the third year running.
West Ham still recorded their highest ever BFA WSL finish, sixth, a result which gave Longhurst something to look forward to come September.
"Most games we’ve played this season we’ve given teams a hard game," she explained. "With probably just the exception of Manchester United last week.
"For 60 minutes I thought we were really resolute today. Arsenal couldn’t break us down and that has to be encouraging for us.
"We have a lot of pride on what we’ve achieved this season but this has to be the benchmark going forward.
"I know we’ve got a top half finish and a record points tally, but we have to build on that and try and compete with the teams above us. Everyone at the club is working towards that.
"We’ve got quality levels in our team, but don’t have the consistency of the top sides and are a little bit away from that. On our day we can give anyone a game."
Arsenal, who finished second, were pushing for a win that could have seen them finish top, but for long periods at a sun drenched Chigwell Construction Stadium, West Ham frustrated their title-chasing opponents.
Although Beth Mead twice went close in the first half, Hammers goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold wasn’t overly worked, while defender Hawa Cissoko produced a colossal display at the back.
As the game approached the hour the hosts looked a good bet for a clean sheet.
But the introduction of Stina Blackstenius turned the game in Arsenal’s favour and within six minutes they were 2-0 up thanks to Steph Catley's strike.
Longhurst said that despite the defeat, there were plenty of positives for her teammates to take from their determined display.
"Once they got that first goal that made us a little tired and fatigued," added Longhurst, who played her 100th match for the Hammers last month and was presented a framed shirt before kick-off.
"It was a good bit of play and was a tough one to take. They (Arsenal) try and wear you down, that’s what they’re good at. But there were certainly a lot of positives in our performance today that we should take into next season.
"We treat every game the same in that we always have the same amount of respect for opponents attacking players. But we’ve been good defensively all season.
"We worked really hard on our shape all week, but we do try to do that for every opponent. We need to know when to hold and when to press, and that comes from a lot of communication throughout the team.
"We’ve built some great relationships over the season and it shows."
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