91Èȱ¬

Leaders Chelsea secured their fourth win from four Women's Super League games with a comfortable victory over Birmingham City at Solihull Moors.

Chelsea captain Katie Chapman scored the game's only goal, lobbing a crowd of players after Birmingham failed to clear a first-half Ji So-Yun corner.

After the break, Gilly Flaherty hit the post for the visitors.

The result leaves Birmingham in seventh place, still searching for a first league win in 2015.

The hosts made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on club captain Karen Carney for her first appearance of the season after injury, and fellow forward Freda Ayisi, who returned after a three-match ban.

But Birmingham failed to seriously threaten, while Chelsea defender Flaherty struck the post from close range.

Chelsea next face second-placed Arsenal on Thursday.

Birmingham City Ladies boss David Parker told 91Èȱ¬ Sport:

"I think it was a very scrappy game.

"A silly mistake on a corner has settled the game - the margins are really small in this game.

"We haven't performed at our best and a set piece has decided it. That's how close we are to turning the corner."

Chelsea Ladies boss Emma Hayes told 91Èȱ¬ 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."

Birmingham City Ladies: Spencer, Sargeant, Carter, Mannion, Harrop, Allen (Linnett 75), Porter, Moore, (c), Lawley, Stringer (Carney 45), Westwood (Ayisi 45).

Substitutes not used: Baggaley, Windell

Chelsea Ladies: Lindahl, Bright, Flaherty, Fahey, Davison (Groenen 82), Aluko, So-Yun (Banusic 90), Rafferty, Borges, Chapman (capt), Spence (Coombs 89).

Substitutes: Hourihan, Blundell, Brett, Meiwald.

Referee: Lisa Rashid