Guro Reiten celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Manchester United.Getty Images

Chelsea are three wins away from equalling a WSL record for consecutive victories

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea moved five points clear at the top of the Women's Super League as victory over Manchester United extended their 100% record.

Guro Reiten's first-half penalty was enough to secure the three points, although United almost snatched a point when Melvine Malard struck the woodwork in injury-time.

A windy Kingsmeadow played host to a match originally scheduled for 6 October but postponed at a week's notice to avoid Chelsea playing twice in the space of 48 hours.

Chelsea started strongly and relentlessly pressed United in central areas, just as they did in victory against Manchester City eight days previously.

Before the match, Sonia Bompastor said breaching United's defence - which had conceded just twice in seven WSL outings - would be difficult, yet it took the reigning champions just 17 minutes to do so.

After Maika Hamano and Sjoeke Nusken fired early warning shots, Mayra Ramirez played a neat one-two with Hamano before being brought down inside the penalty area by United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Reiten coolly slotted the resulting spot-kick into the bottom left corner, increasing her goals tally this season to six in eight league games.

United gained composure and kept Chelsea quiet for the remainder of the half, but in the absence of the injured Elisabeth Terland, Marc Skinner’s side posed little attacking threat.

Despite playing with the wind behind them, United failed to take a shot on goal in the first half of a WSL match for the first time ever.

United improved in the second half but it was Chelsea's Johanna Rytting Kaneryd who should have scored the second goal of the afternoon.

The Swedish attacker pounced on a loose ball at the back but elected not to pass to team-mates in space and saw her effort well blocked by United skipper Maya le Tissier.

To their credit United hung in and could have snatched a late equaliser to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, but Malard saw her effort from the edge of the box rattle the crossbar with Hannah Hampton stranded.

The hosts survived that late scare to see out their ninth win in 10 WSL meetings with United, but more importantly extended their lead at the top of the table to five points after just eight games.

That said, Bompastor wasn't entirely happy with her side's performance.

"I think in possession of the ball I wanted us to play a little bit more, which we didn't do, but the weather was not easy for both teams," she said.

"Also credit to Manchester United, they have a very defensive organisation and are very efficient in that. We are able to score in the penalty, which is good, but we probably could have done a lot more with the possession of the ball."

United boss Skinner also mentioned the tough conditions, but said he was proud of his players in defeat.

"We said we would give everything from the off and the players have given everything," he said.

"Both teams had to play the conditions but the pride I feel for the team and their commitment to what we're doing and know we can do, I'm proud of their performance."

Chelsea have now won 11 consecutive league games and need just four more to set a new WSL record.

Chelsea power on

WSL Highlights: Chelsea beat Man Utd to go five points clear at top

For the second weekend in a row, Chelsea overcame an undefeated side to maintain their own 100% record.

While United were already six points behind the hosts at kick-off, their league-best five clean sheets this season meant Chelsea were always unlikely to romp to victory.

Chelsea were not at their best, but it's an ominous sign for the rest of the league when they keep on winning despite the absence of Sam Kerr, Lauren James and Mia Fishel.

Not even a change in the dugout has altered much. Bompastor made history last weekend by becoming the first manager to win her first seven games in the WSL. On Sunday she extended her own record to eight.

Having already beaten Arsenal, Manchester City and United this season, it's difficult to see anyone stopping Chelsea from winning a sixth consecutive WSL title.

Player of the match

G. Reiten
7.73
11 G. Reiten
7.73
22 L. Bronze
7.63
7 M. Ramírez
7.60
24 H. Hampton
7.32
17 S. Baltimore
7.08
8 E. Cuthbert
6.93
4 M. Bright
6.92
19 J. Rytting Kaneryd
6.92
33 A. Beever-Jones
6.80
6 S. Nüsken
6.60
14 N. Björn
6.57
23 M. Hamano
6.51
9 C. Macário
6.09
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