Viviane Asseyi was involved in all three goals as West Ham defeated Newcastle 3-0 in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round proper.
Asseyi opened the scoring from the spot in seven minutes before half time before setting up Riko Ueki and Sarah Brasero for second-half goals to seal the Hammers’ progress.
The hosts, sat fourth in WSL2, started brightly and created the game’s first chance, though Beth Lumsden’s header did not have enough power on it to seriously trouble Kinga Szemik in the West Ham goal.
Szemik was called into action again to deny Demi Stokes midway through the first half before Asseyi spurned a presentable opportunity at the other end, firing over when well placed.
She was given the chance to make amends swiftly afterwards, however, after being played in by Brasero and brought down by Wardlaw from behind when clean through on goal.
The French striker picked herself up to roll the spot-kick into the bottom right-hand corner, her shot accurate enough to beat the dive of Anna Tamminen, who guessed the right way.
Jordan Nobbs, a four-time competition winner featuring in her 17th season of Women’s FA Cup action, had the first chance of the second period but her effort from Lumsden’s cut back was comfortably saved by Szemik as the Magpies sought a response.
But it was the Hammers who struck the vital second goal of the game. Asseyi was again involved, breaking in behind and pulling the ball back into a dangerous area. Leila Wandeler missed her kick but Ueki was well placed behind her to pick out the top corner with a composed finish.
Newcastle came within a whisker of setting up a grand finale when Emily Murphy struck the post, via a fine save by Szemik, having regained possession high up the pitch.
West Ham promptly went straight up the other end and put the game out of sight, Brasero calmly passing into the corner having been set up by Asseyi.
Murphy almost grabbed a consolation in unusual circumstances, charging down Szemik’s clearance only to see the ball narrowly miss the target as the visitors kept hold of their clean sheet to advance.
