Chelsea 3-1 Aston Villa: Lauren James' double helps champions to fifth consecutive win
- Published
James' goals were the 21-year-old's first this season
Lauren James scored twice as Chelsea made it five consecutive Women's Super League wins with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa.
The England striker put the champions ahead midway through the first half, but Villa were level through Rachel Daly before half-time.
A superb second from James two minutes into the second half restored Chelsea's lead, which was extended by Sam Kerr.
Chelsea are second on goal difference behind Manchester United.
The win completes a good week for Chelsea, following a 2-0 win at Brighton in the WSL and the 8-0 thrashing of Vllaznia Femra in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Guro Reiten had been denied an early goal by a fine save from Villa goalkeeper Anna Leat, but her pass set up James to shoot home for her first.
James' strike stung Villa into action, and they enjoyed their best spell of the match which culminated in Daly deftly flicking in Sarah Mayling's low cross.
But Chelsea retook the lead less than two minutes into the second half when James raced into the right side of the Villa area before unleashing a fierce shot across Leat and into the opposite corner of the net.
James then added an assist to her goals, with her pass giving substitute Kerr the chance to shoot home from inside the area.