West Ham United put on a show for their fans who turned out on a chilly winter's night in East London. After a spirited first half performance from Portsmouth at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, West Ham turned up the temperature in the second half and scored three within six minutes of the restart to put the result beyond doubt.

The match was one of eight fixtures tonight in the opening round of fixtures in Women's League Cup, returning to the calendar minus its beloved former guise (the Conti Cup). West Ham rang in the changes with only two players retaining their place from Saturday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool, those two were at the back with Shelina Zadorsky and Shannon Cooke retaining their place, the former was captain for the night with Katrina Gorry rested. As for the visitors, they made five changes to the starting XI that lost to Newcastle on the weekend.

The Lineups WHU: Walsh, Siren, Bergman Lundin, Pavi, Zadorsky (c), Saez, Cooke, Houssein, Morrison, Doe, Piubel

POR: Annets, McEwen, Coan, Freeland, McLaughlin, Rolf, Dent, Pitman, Collins, Casley (c), Hornby

The Action The game settled into an initially-clunky rhythm, with West Ham looking to press Portsmouth high up the pitch. Portsmouth's Erin McLaughlin looked to make an impact early on, trying to receive the ball from deep and progress the ball up the pitch to varying levels of success. But it was McLaughlin's blocked strike after a cunning turn that registered as the first effort of the of the evening. For West Ham's part, Shannon Cooke was assured in defence for the Hammers early on while Ruby Doe, making her competitive debut for the Hammers from the right wing, looked like a seasoned campaigner in possession in the early exchanges.

Just before the ten minute mark West Ham had their first effort as Manuela Pavi, twisting and turning, made room for herself on the edge of the box before her powerful drive lifted over the crossbar. In response, Pompey winger Megan Hornby came close to scoring direct from a corner with her effort landing just-wide of the post, but with enough menace to draw a gasp from the onlooking Hammers faithful.

An ambitious looping ball over the top from Halle Houssein found Swiss striker Seraina Piubel, who jostled for position with Portsmouth defender Grace McEwen. Piubel overpowered McEwen within the confides of the law before taking a touch just to the left side of the goal and finding the opposite corner of the net with her next touch.

Shortly after a good run from tricky Pompey winger Hornby saw her advance into the box after a smart pass from Erin McLaughlin had found her on the left hand side. Her run was halted Houssein playing at left wing back who brought down the winger and the referee pointed to the spot. It was Hornby who stepped up and duly converted to draw her team level and score her team's first goal of the season in the process. Portsmouth, enthused by their success, pressed forward and through Hornby continued to threaten once again coming exceptionally close to scoring from a corner but a foul on Megan Walsh in the West Ham goal scuppered her chances. Hornby continued throughout the half to try and find the back of the net from set pieces, where a delivery into the box may have been the wiser choice.

Ruby Doe went down under a challenge in the midfield from Hannah Coan just thirty minutes in, seemingly clutching her knee. The youngster's debut was sadly cut short as she limped off the pitch visibly upset and was replaced by Emma Harries. Not long after, a lovely flowing move from the home side was made, with the silky dribbling of Pavi on showcased for all to see, she passed to Harries whose lofted ball across the box found Shelina Zadorsky on the other side and the Canadian fired just wide.

Pavi was involved again not long after as she played a chipped ball over to Piubel sprinting through on goal but her shot was well stopped by Annets preventing the former FC Zurich striker from nabbing her second of the night and restoring West Ham's lead. But it proved only a stay of execution for Pompey. Houssein found the ball on the right hand side and once again turned provider with a chipped ball finding Emma Harries with her back to goal, Harries, took an intelligent first touch allowed her the time and space to chip the ball over Annets to make it 2-1 to West Ham. Portsmouth threatened an equaliser before the break with Emily Pitman's shot caught by Walsh.

West Ham made an electric start to the second half under a minute after the restart, as half-time substitute Viviane Asseyi ran onto a through ball from Marika Bergman Lundin and duly slotted the ball home to double the Hammers advantage. Only minutes later the ball broke to Asseyi once again in the box, and the French striker made no mistake firing the ball under Annets who would have been disappointed not to do better with the effort.

Just a couple of minutes later, a wonderful West Ham move down the left side started with Pavi, who played the ball to Zadorsky seemingly down a blind alley, but Zadorsky played a wonderful back-heeled pass back into the path of Pavi. Pavi's cross found the grateful head of Emma Harries who nodded the ball into the net at the near post to make it 5-1 and put the game beyond doubt.

In response, Annie Rolf sent a blistering shot wide of the post for Pompey, but they struggled to impact the game after being shellshocked by the West Ham's second half flurry of goals. Asseyi continued to cause Portsmouth's defence all kinds of issues, as she would found the net once again before the final whistle only to be denied by the offside flag. Her flick late on set Riko Ueki through on goal, but her shot was magnificently stopped by Annets.

A dangerous cross attempting to find Asseyi was diverted towards goal by Riva Casley, but Annets dived to her right to make another wonderful save with minutes remaining to attempt to offer a level of respectability to the score. But West Ham would not be denied their sixth, and from the resulting corner Riko Ueki rose highest to head the cross off the post and into the back of the net. West Ham, with their opponent subdued early in the half settled into a far more comfortable rhythm early on as the Rihanne Skinner's side, saw out the rest of the match for the win.

Elsewhere in the same group London City Lionesses meet Southampton tomorrow evening. Next up for West Ham is Manchester City at the Joie Stadium this Sunday in the Barclays Women's Super League, whilst Portsmouth travel to London City Lionesses on the same day in the Championship.

The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Viviane Asseyi The difference between a nervous night and a confidence boosting win, Asseyi was at her clinical and creative best.

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