Chelsea Ladies crowned Super League champions for first time after big win

04 October 2015 19:46

Chelsea Ladies clinched the FA Women's Super League title for the first time with a 4-0 home victory over Sunderland Ladies on the final day of the season.

England striker Fran Kirby scored twice in the convincing win, with Ji So-yun and Gemma Davison also on target, as Chelsea sealed the double, having won the Women's FA Cup in August.

Chelsea were guaranteed the title providing they won, as nearest rivals Manchester City Women were two points adrift heading into the closing round of games.

Runners-up City were 2-1 winners at home against Notts County Ladies, in front of a league record crowd of 3,180, thanks to goals from Nikita Parris and Izzy Christiansen.

Chelsea, who lost 4-0 at Sunderland earlier in the season, made sure there would be no repeat by powering ahead early and building on their lead.

They had missed out on the title on the final day of the 2014 campaign, when Liverpool scooped the silverware.

Kirby, who tapped in the second goal and scored a brilliant solo third for the team, said of the championship success: "It's pretty incredible. I'm just happy I could help out.

"There were nerves coming into the game from everyone but on the pitch I think we dominated from start to finish and could have had more goals. It was a great team performance."

Kirby, who joined from Reading after playing for the Lionesses in the World Cup, said on BT Sport: "I'm really delighted to win the championship with Chelsea and hopefully we can do it again next season."

Chelsea, who play their home matches at Staines Town, are managed by the only woman boss in the FAWSL in Emma Hayes.

Their title-clinching win was watched by 2,710, as the women matched the achievement of Jose Mourinho's men's side last season in becoming league champions.

Hayes said: "Everybody had contributed to this success and we deserve to be champions. I thought it was a thorough performance tonight.

"The girls really wanted to put on a great performance and I thought they dominated from start to finish. I knew tonight would be our night."

Source: PA