Dagny Brynjarsdottir has scored five WSL goals in 10 appearances for West Ham this season
Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Hawa Cissoko scored second-half goals as West Ham secured a London derby win at Tottenham in the Women's Super League.
Having missed a first-half penalty, Brynjarsdottir collected a loose ball and fired the visitors in front after 49 minutes.
Cissoko struck on a late counter attack for the Hammers, who look set to end the calendar year fifth in the WSL.
Defeat was Spurs' third in a row as they stayed seventh.
The Hammers went three points ahead of Aston Villa, in sixth, who lost 4-1 to Arsenal on Sunday.
Hammers boost top-five hopes
France international Hawa Cissoko was starting her first game since receiving a five-match ban after her red card against Aston Villa in October
Victory means West Ham have now won three of their past four matches, bouncing back from last weekend's loss to out-of-form Liverpool.
They were the better side at the Breyer Group Stadium in Leyton and were awarded a penalty when Spurs defender Kerys Harrop took out Kate Longhurst on the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time.
Brynjarsdottir's spot-kick was poor, well wide of the target, although she would make amends with her goal shortly after the restart, her fifth in 10 WSL matches this season.
Spurs piled on the pressure late on, only to leave space at the back for Hammers centre-half Cissoko to burst forward and chip the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer in the 83rd minute.
It was to be the last meaningful piece of action as the defender marked her first start since returning from a five-match suspension with her first league goal for West Ham.
The Hammers have never finished higher than seventh in their two WSL campaigns.
But, after a fifth league win from 10 games, they remain set to make club history in manager Paul Konchesky's first season in charge.
While Tottenham, who have now lost five of their eight WSL matches this term, are in mid-table, closer in points to bottom club Leicester than they are to the top three.
