Chelsea left it late to deny Natalia Arroyo a historic result in her first game as Aston Villa manager as Sarah Mayling’s own goal earned the WSL leaders a 1-0 win.
Arroyo’s new side enjoyed arguably the better of the play at Villa Park, and were inches away from the opener when Kirsty Hanson struck the woodwork from distance 17 minutes from time.
But having come so close to a first-ever WSL point against the Blues, Mayling turned Maya Ramirez’s low cross beyond Sabrina D’Angelo for a cruel own goal eight minutes from the end to extend Chelsea’s lead at the top to 10 points.
Keira Walsh, signed by the Blues from Barcelona on Deadline Day, made a late cameo from the bench as Sonia Bompastor called for re-enforcements she would not have expected to need, but it was the hosts who caught the eye more than any Chelsea player.
Hanson worked tirelessly down the left flank and was set away by Jordan Nobbs’ inviting through-ball for the best chance of the game, outpacing Nathalie Bjorn before rattling the bar with an excellent effort which Hannah Hampton got fingertips to.
Hampton had nearly gifted Villa an opener before the break when her poor clearance was intercepted by Gabi Nunes, but her chip lacked the height to catch out the goalkeeper who had strayed well off her line.
Instead the game’s only goal came from a moment of real misfortune, as Mayling stretched to deny Maika Hamano an open goal but instead put her own name on the scoresheet as Villa dropped to 10th in the table, four points above the drop.
