Birmingham City Ladies 0-1 Chelsea Ladies

Katie Chapman is in her second season with Chelsea, having joined from London rivals Arsenal in January 2014

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 BBC 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 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."

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