Goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and maiden Chelsea goals from Maika Hamano and Kadeisha Buchanan sealed a professional three nil win for the Blues, which sends Emma Hayes’s them top of the Barclays Women’s Super League by virtue of goal difference amidst a disappointing fortnight of Cup action.

The main talking point to come out of Chelsea’s team news department came in the form of a first start for American, Catarina Macario. Maika Hamano, Fran Kirby, Aggie Beever-Jones, and Ashley Lawerence also make their way into Emma Hayes’ starting eleven.

Aston Villa handed a rare start to Miri Taylor, as Rachel Daly starts for the first time since announcing her retirement from international football.

CHE: Hampton; Lawerence, Carter, Buchanan, Charles, Nüsken, Ingle, Hamano, Kirby, Beever-Jones, Macario.

AVL: Leat; Mayling, Patten, Corsie, Nobbs, Daly, Dali, Salmon, Magil. Taylor, Maritz.

With murky grey skies and the aftermath of a downpour in the air, the Blues got the game underway- knowing that a win would take them top of the league on goal difference.

The drama came early at Kingsmeadow, with just four minutes on the clock when Anna Leat received her marching orders from referee, Melissa Burgin, causing Ebony Salmon to be withdrawn in place of Villa’s third choice keeper- Sophia Poor.

The red card came due to a loose Rachel Corsie back-pass, allowing Sjoeke Nüsken to nip in, to which she fired goal wards. Leat pushed the attempt wide from well outside her area, leaving referee Burgin with no other alternative but to send her off for the action.

Corsie was in the book moments later following a torrid opening ten for her, as she brought Niamh Charles down late on the edge of the box. From the resulting kick, Catarina Macario sung it towards the far post, which was met by a brilliant hooked clearance from Simone Magill.

Jordan Nobbs had Villa’s first action of the game going forwards, spotting a gap and driving through the Chelsea midfield but saw her effort fly harmlessly over Hannah Hampton’s crossbar.

The hosts had the lead with just over 15 minutes on the clock, as a fantastic piece of play ensued at Kingsmeadow. Sophie Ingle and Niamh Charles combined, with the latter sending in a deep cross which reached Beever-Jones at the far post, who on the turn smashed her left footed volley past Sophia Poor in the Villa goal to give the hosts the lead in the 18th minute of play.

The Blues wanted a very quick second and very nearly had it, when an in-siwinging corner from Macario was flicked agonisingly wide by Fran Kirby.

Beever-Jones was causing Noelle Maritz all sorts of problems at the far post, with Ingle looking to pick out the Chelsea 33 this time. Maritz was able to return back and defend the situation at the expense of a corner, which Nüsken flicked wide on the occassion.

The second was felt to be coming, as Ashley Lawerence did well to fend off her marker down the right, before her cross went all the way across the box to the waiting Maika Hamano, who stabbed home her first goal for the club to give them that breathing space.

Hamano had her tail up, winning the ball back high she sent an effort wide and into the North stand behind the goal in the last meaningful action of the half.

No changes for either side at the break, with the air having a bit more frostiness to it as Villa got the second half underway.

Chelsea flexing their attacking muscles with only four minutes of the first half gone, with Beever-Jones looking to add to her goal, but her side footed effort went inches wide oif Poor’s post after really strong running from the England international.

It was nearly a moment to forget for the Villa stand in keeper, as her loose ball rolled towards her own goal, but Corsie was on hand to hook the ball behind.

Strong running down the left from Kirby followed, whose brilliant ball fell well to Macario. With a few clever keepy-ups, the US international returned the ball to her sender, but the Chelsea number 14 couldn’t find the top right corner.

The third goal finally came for the Blues just after the hour, with Macario’s corner powered home by the head of Kadeisha Buchanan, the second assist of the game for Chelsea’s Number nine.

Some more, brilliant play from Chelsea saw Lawerence feed Aggie Beever-Jones down the right, whose far post cross was met by Hamano, but her header sailed well clear of the bar.

Sophia Poor then had her moment in the limelight, as Chelsea flooded forward with Beever-Jones finding Lawerence on the overlap. The Canadian defender did well to float a delicious ball into the path of Mayra Ramirez, whose header was superbly kept out by Poor in the Villa goal.

Villa kept huffing and puffing, with Kirsty Hanson being released down the left hand side, but her attempted strike bobbled across the six yard box without troubling the hosts.

Hanson again went close for Villa as we inched towards the final minute mark, but her low effort this time was saved well by Hampton.

Chelsea had chances to add a fourth in added time, with Mayra Ramirez going on a wonderful solo run, leaving both Daly and Maritz in her wake. Despite the streaming effort, her strike was tame and held by Poor, who then relied on a Villa body to clear a goal-bound header from Sophie Ingle off the line moments later.

Melissa Burgin brought an end to proceedings at Kingsmeadow, as Chelsea return to the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League table on goal difference- sitting ahead of Manchester City by the fine margin of +2.