Chelsea returned to the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League, goal-difference ahead of Manchester City after victory over ten-player Aston Villa.
A disastrous start for the visitors saw goalkeeper Anna Leat sent off for handling the ball outside the area after just four minutes. Sophia Poor came on for her debut and Ebony Salmon was sacrificed.
Aggie Beevor-Jones made the player advantage pay, with an emphatic finish from a Niamh Charles cross on 18 minutes.
Maika Hamano doubled the lead before half time, after Catarina Macario flicked on Ashley Lawrence’s cut-back.
Like Hamano, Kadeisha Buchanan also got her first goal for the Blues, redirecting in Anna Patten’s defensive header from a Macario cross to make it 3-0.
