Women's Super League Chelsea 2 Everton 1 Full time

Lauren James scored her second league goal of the season to win the game late for Chelsea

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor described Lauren James as "precious" after her 93rd-minute winner helped the Women's Super League leaders fight back to beat Everton.

The hosts seemed set to drop points for only the second time in the league this campaign, with Mayra Ramirez cancelling out Kelly Gago's surprise opener.

But Chelsea are a winning machine this season - and found a way through late on when James struck into the bottom corner from 25 yards to snatch all three points.

"In football I've seen a lot of really talented players – I've played with some of them, I've coached some of them – but I think I have to say I'm really impressed with [Lauren James] because what she does on the pitch when she has the ball is incredible," said Bompastor.

"I'm really pleased because we started this season talking together and I told her that I really wanted her to be impactful for the team."

They have now won 26 of their past 27 matches in all competitions, and stay seven points clear of Manchester United in the WSL.

But the hosts were forced to come from behind in the second half after Everton took a 50th-minute lead against the run of play.

Half-time substitute Justine Vanhaevermaet won the ball back in midfield and fed Toni Payne, who in turn played the ball through to Gago.

The pass appeared to be slightly overhit as Gago was forced wide, yet she fired a brilliant first-time finish past the static Hannah Hampton to silence Kingsmeadow.

Chelsea equalised 12 minutes later, with Ramirez collecting a Johanna Rytting Kaneryd pass on the turn and slotting low past Courtney Brosnan.

It looked like the reigning champions would drop points for the first time since a 1-1 draw at Leicester in December - and the first time at home this season - with Aggie Beever-Jones hitting the woodwork twice late on.

But in the dying seconds James found space outside the area and fired into the bottom corner to keep the Chelsea juggernaut rolling.

"Today I think if she was not on the pitch we probably could not have won the game," added Bompastor. "The talent is really helpful in that situation.

"She could show her talent with the ball, but also she works really hard for the team and I think that's something really good.

"As a player I think her team-mates also value that and I think that's really important."

Bompastor's below-par Blues still find a way to win

Mayra Ramirez scored her fourth league goal of the season to draw Chelsea level

It is a mark of champions to win games when not playing well - and Chelsea laboured for long periods on Sunday.

They thought they had taken the lead after nine minutes from a goalmouth scramble following a corner, but Brosnan managed to repel Maelys Mpome's close-range header.

After that Chelsea failed to trouble Brosnan until falling behind, and even then they looked likely to drop points until James' last-gasp intervention.

For Everton there is a sense of deja vu following their FA Cup meeting at this ground last weekend.

Seven days ago, Chelsea won 4-1 after initially falling behind. It took a dubious penalty to bring them level and set them on their way.

It took even longer for Chelsea to find their feet here.

Keira Walsh, making her first WSL start since 2022 after her return to England from Barcelona last month, struggled to pick passes through Everton's midfield and the hosts' attacks were often one dimensional - long passes and crosses into the box as if expecting a mistake rather than looking to create something themselves.

Chelsea must improve with tougher tests imminent - notably a series of fixtures against Manchester City in the WSL, League Cup and Champions League.

But they still keep finding a way and with striker Sam Kerr set to return from injury and legal issues, potentially as soon as next month, an unbeaten WSL season remains a possibility.