Crystal Palace were relegated from the Women’s Super League after a 7-1 home hammering by West Ham.

Leif Smerud’s side went into the game knowing they needed a win to stand any chance of avoiding relegation but Shekiera Martinez’s first-half hat-trick effectively sealed their fate.

The forward struck again after the break before Viviane Asseyi’s stunning strike, with Katie Stengel’s penalty little consolation before Emma Harries’ late brace.

Palace had a glorious chance to take the lead when full-back Ria Oling failed to properly connect with a free header from a corner.

But West Ham instead opened the scoring in the 18th minute as Verena Hanshaw sent in a deep cross from the left and Martinez got up above Hayley Nolan to head in.

Palace responded with their best spell of the first half and Clarissa Larisey’s neat pass was met crisply by Stengel but her shot was well saved by Kinga Szemik, with the rebound scuffed wide.

Asseyi fired high and wide for West Ham and Ashleigh Weerden responded in kind for Palace after intercepting Szemik’s poor pass out of goal.

Weerden completely missed her kick six yards out after arriving unmarked to meet Lily Woodham’s cross and was punished just before half-time when Katrina Gorry broke and fed Martinez who cut inside Nolan and rifled home.

The German was not finished there and, from Oona Siren’s through-ball, rounded keeper Shae Yanez and made it three.

Yanez got a crucial hand to Seraina Piubel’s low ball to prevent Asseyi driving a final nail into Palace’s coffin.

Asseyi and Riko Ueki threatened again before the former played in Martinez, who was adjudged narrowly onside to score her fourth.

Asseyi’s wonderful 35-yard lob on the break rubbed salt in Palace’s wounds and saw Martinez withdrawn as part of a triple substitution.

Stengel sent Szemik the wrong way after Ueki brought down substitute Indiah-Paige Riley in the box.

But Harries dug out an angled effort over Yanez and then tapped in the seventh.