WSL 1 leaders Chelsea made it four wins out for four against a resilient Birmingham City side who are still searching for their first league win of 2015.
Chelsea captain Katie Chapman scored the only goal of the game inside the first 10 minutes for Emma Hayes’ side, lobbing Birmingham goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer after her defence failed to clear a corner from the PFA’s Player of the Year Ji So-Yun.
The hosts then looked to respond immediately but Jo Potter’s free-kick was fired narrowly over the bar before Drew Spence almost doubled the visitors lead when her fierce effort was blocked well after a lightning-quick break down the left by Eni Aluko.
The best chance of the first 45 then fell to in-form Gemma Davison who has scored 5 goals in the past 5 games in all competitions for the Londoners. But Spencer was quick off her-line to deny the striker after she found herself one-on-one following a defence-splitting pass from Aluko.
The Midlands outfit made a double substitution at the break which saw the return of Karen Carney following an injury that has prevented her playing any football so far this season, and Freda Ayisi who picked up a red-card against Manchester City earlier in the campaign.
Ayisi looked to threaten instantly and was causing the league leaders trouble with her pace down the left, but the forward lacked the final product and Chelsea remained in control.
Millie Bright went close for the visitors but fired agonisingly wide before Niamh Fahey headed a corner just off-target. Aluko was then denied by a last-ditch tackle from Birmingham’s Meaghan Sargeant as the game balanced on a knife-edge.
Chelsea pressed for that all important killer second goal and Gilly Flaherty almost provided it with an ambitious effort on the turn which crashed against the post with 20 minutes to go.
David Parker urged his players forward in the final exchanges in the hope of a last gasp equaliser and Ayisi forced a good save from Hedvig Lindahl in the Chelsea goal but the visitors were able to hold on and claim yet another victory.
Although pleased with the win, manager Emma Hayes was disappointed her side weren’t more clinical in front of goal. Commenting on the result, she told BBC Sport, “It was thoroughly deserved today and I think 1-0 flattered the opposition.
“We created a lot of chances. The most disappointing thing about today is that we didn’t convert more of the chances we created.”
