Chelsea end wait for WSL win with comfortable performance against West Ham

Emma Hayes' team are now just one point behind leaders Arsenal, having both reached the halfway stage in the season


KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - JANUARY 26: Bethany England of Chelsea celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Chelsea Women and West Ham United Women at Kingsmeadow on January 26, 2022
Beth England got on the scoresheet with her 50th goal in the competition Credit: Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea 2 West Ham United 0

Chelsea climbed to second in the Women’s Super League table as they returned to winning ways with a patient performance at home to West Ham United.

Emma Hayes’ side had been without a league victory since 21 November after a combination of the WSL’s three-week Christmas break, multiple Covid-related postponements, a shock defeat at Reading in December and Sunday’s frustrating goalless draw at Brighton.

However, the defending champions put that long wait behind them with a second comfortable win over the East London club in the space of a week, after knocking them out of the League Cup seven days previously. The result lifted Chelsea back above in-form Manchester United, who have still played an additional game, while Hayes’ team are now just one point behind leaders Arsenal, having both reached the halfway stage in the season.

After a goalless first half, the 50th WSL goal of striker Beth England’s career put the home side ahead shortly after half-time, as she slotted in on the rebound after Erin Cuthbert's low drive was initially saved.

Scotland's Cuthbert scooped in a late second into the far corner in the closing stages to make the points safe, after good work from England's Fran Kirby, who impressed yet again.

West Ham, who remain seventh in the table, caused the hosts little trouble defensively and failed to register an effort on target, three days after recording a strong 3-0 home victory over Everton. Defeat saw Olli Harder’s side’s five-game unbeaten run in the WSL come to an end, but it was no disgrace against a Chelsea side who found their stride at Kingsmeadow.

Half-time substitute England’s goal was her first in Chelsea colours since October, as her introduction from the bench for the second half made a key difference, in a period where Hayes’ side are without star Australia striker Sam Kerr because of her involvement in the ongoing Asia Cup.

Chelsea manager Hayes was pleased with the determined nature of the goals scored by her team, adding: "I’m happy we scored scrappy goals. I’ve got a team who want to score the most perfect goals, so I’m delighted it was scrappy. We don’t score enough goals for the amount we create. I want more of those types of goals for us."

Match details

Chelsea (3-4-3): Berger; Charles, Bright, Nouwen; Cuthbert, Andersson, Ingle, Reiten (England, 45); Fleming (Carter, 73), Harder (Spence, 83), Kirby (Abdullina, 86)
Subs not used: Music, James
Yellow cards: None

West Ham United (3-5-2): Leat; Parker, Fisk, Cissoko; Wyne, Filis (Stringer, 70), Snerle, Longhurst, Svitkova; Walker, Evans
Subs not used: Flaherty, Joel, Cairns, Moore, Houssein
Yellow cards: Cissoko, Parker
Referee: Ryan Atkin (London)
Attendance: 2,554

License this content