Beth England’s 50th Women’s Super League goal helped Chelsea to a 2-0 win over West Ham.
The substitute and Erin Cuthbert scored to earn Emma Hayes’s side a comfortable victory that moved them up to second and above Manchester United, a point behind leaders Arsenal. Chelsea dominated the first half, with Pernille Harder’s header well saved by Anna Leat and Sophie Ingle’s cross coming back off the top of the crossbar.
Despite the hosts being in control they failed to find a first-half breakthrough, but England came on at the break and made an impact only six minutes after the restart. Cuthbert cut in from the right and, when her shot was saved by Leat, England fired in the opener from close range.
Cuthbert wrapped up the points with eight minutes left when she collected a pass from Fran Kirby, held off the challenge of Zaneta Wyne and found the net.
“The number of goals Erin gets is not enough for the chances she gets. That’s her next challenge,” Hayes said. “She is a brilliant character, a warrior who has everything in her game.
“I have the team who want to score the most delightful goals, we want to walk the ball into the net. We don’t score enough goals for what we create. The reality is we needed that goal from Beth, her response to coming on was great.”
