By Lloyd Webb at Meadow Park
Summary
Arsenal Ladies' title chances suffered a blow as they were beaten 2-0 by Women's Super League leaders Chelsea on Sunday.
The visitors took an early lead when former Gunner Gilly Flaherty's header took an unfortunate deflection off Vicky Losada.
Gemma Davison doubled Chelsea's lead from the spot after Emma Mitchell had fouled Fran Kirby in the 69th minute.
Jordan Nobbs almost pulled one back for Arsennal in injury time but her half-volley crashed against the post and the Blues ran out victors.
Setting the scene
The Gunners had the chance to leapfrog Chelsea with a win at Meadow Park.
Pedro Martinez Losa didn’t tamper too much with the winning formula that saw his side beat the Blues 2-0 last week in the Continental Cup, making just two changes as Losada and Lotte Wubben-Moy started in place of Vyan Sampson and Alex Scott.
First half
Chelsea went ahead in the seventh minute when Flaherty's header from a corner deflected off Losada and flew into the net.
Losada almost capitalised on Hedvig Lindahl’s failure to hold on to Dominique Janssen’s long ball but the chance was put behind for a corner in the 37th minute.
Just before half-time, Chelsea's Kirby combined with Ji So-Yun to make space for a curled effort at goal, but it went wide.
Second half
Chelsea made a bright start to the second half as Claire Rafferty jinked past Corredera and played the ball to Kirby, who turned and fired over the bar in the 55th minute.
The visitors then doubled their lead in the 69th minute from the spot after Mitchell had tripped Kirby, with Davison firing her penalty into the top corner.
Nobbs hit the post late in injury time on the half-volley to give Chelsea a scare, but the game finished 2-0.
Referee:
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