Spurs Women edged out by ruthless Chelsea after another fine WSL display

Spurs Women came close to completing the set of taking points off the Women's Super League's established 'big three', but it wasn't to be at The Hive on Sunday.

Having beaten Manchester City and drawn against Arsenal, we looked in control at half-time against Chelsea and well set with the game level at 1-1 and the visitors down to 10 players following the sending off of goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger for bringing down Rachel Williams.

We'd had the better chances as well, but Chelsea - seven wins, six clean sheets on the trot and 28 goals against one coming into this derby - reorganised at the break and their 4-4-1 proved tough to break down in the second half. Fighting it out with Arsenal for the WSL title, Chelsea went on to win it thanks to Sam Kerr's header on 71 minutes and Jessie Fleming's 30-yard rocket in added time.

Nevertheless, this was another example of us competing with the very elite of the women's game and we remain on target for our best-ever finish in the WSL (previous best, seventh) as we stay fifth in the table, with games in hand.

Rehanne Skinner lined-up with three at the back - Viktoria Schnaderbeck joining Molly Bartrip and Shelina Zadorsky - and with regular central midfielders Ria Percival and Maeva Clemaron missing, So-hyon Cho and Eveliina Summanen stepped into that key area.

Our set pieces had already caused Chelsea problems when we opened the scoring from a corner on 15 minutes. Bartrip whipped in an inswinger from the left that sailed over Berger, struck the inside of the post and then cannoned back off Ingle and home.

Chelsea's equaliser looked somewhat fortuitous on 26 minutes as Guro Reiten got to the left byline and looked to chip in a cross. Instead, her dinked, slightly sliced effort lobbed over Tinja-Riikka Korpela guarding her near post and nestled in the far corner.

The game turned in our favour on 33 minutes. Kyah Simon delivered a superb pass around the corner, picking Rachel Williams' run between Chelsea's square back line. Berger came rushing out to meet her, Williams got there first and was taken out. After taking time on her decision, referee Lisa Benn showed the red card. Chelsea withdrew Bethany England as substitute goalkeeper Zecira Musovic took over from Berger. Zadorsky's ensuing free-kick struck the defensive wall.

We had the better of it for the rest of the half as Summanen's rocket from another corner was blocked and Williams unleashed a volley that sailed just wide.

Chelsea looked better organised after the break as the teams traded chances early in the second half. Millie Bright's effort was blocked from a corner and Korpela saved brilliantly from Kerr bursting through. At the other end, Kerys Harrop's cross was clawed from under the crossbar by Musovic and on 69 minutes, Jess Naz cut in from the left and drilled just over.

Unfortunately, Chelsea grabbed the initiative on 71 minutes when substitute Jonna Andersson,  just into the action, delivered a cross from the left met by Kerr, who planted her header into the corner. We struggled to create chances after that, and Chelsea sealed the points in spectacular style when another substitute, Jessie Fleming, rifled home from 30 yards in the fifth minute of added time.

Match data

Goals: Spurs - Ingle (own goal) 15; Chelsea - Reiten 26, Kerr 71, Fleming 90+5.

Yellow cards: Spurs - Zadorsky 73, Williams 75; Chelsea - Bright 45+4, Carter 90+3.

Red card: Chelsea - Berger 34.

Referee: Lisa Benn.

Weather: Sunny but breezy, 17 degrees at kick-off.

Venue: The Hive, Barnet FC.