West Ham earned their first Women's Super League away win of the season with a morale-boosting victory over Crystal Palace thanks to Kelly Gago's first-half strike.

Gago scored with the only shot on target in a poor first half, but the Hammers had the better of the play after the break and should have won by a greater margin.

The Eagles rarely threatened, managing only one shot on target, and were content to hang in the game for long periods.

Palace's best opportunity came after a late scramble in the penalty area when the ball dropped to Shannon O'Brien, who lifted her effort high over the crossbar.

West Ham's second win of the season lifted them to ninth in the table, with Palace slipping to 10th.

A mistake by Palace captain Aimee Everett allowed West Ham to take the lead.

Everett was caught in possession near the byline by Oona Siren, whose low cross picked out Gago to sweep the ball beyond Palace goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

Palace thought they had equalised shortly before the interval when Bethany England side-footed home from Fuka Tsunoda's cross, only for the assistant referee to flag for offside.

West Ham showed much more attacking threat after the break, with Everett clearing Leila Wandeler's attempt off the line.

Palace finally threw caution to the wind in the closing stages, but West Ham's defence stood firm.