While the final day of the Women’s Super League threatened to throw up a dramatic end to the campaign, the relentless winning machine is that Chelsea rather spoiled the party for the neutral.
For the fourth time in a row, Emma Hayes and her side reign over English football as champions.
They needed to lose to now-relegated Reading and see Manchester United beat Liverpool in order to give up their grip on the trophy and those thrill-seekers looking for some title excitement may have been convincing themselves that could indeed happen.
The Royals, after all, have been a difficult team to break down in previous years and United’s season has been one full of great strides forward.
Still, there is simply too much experience in the Chelsea ranks for that to realistically happen.
Even a draw at the Select Car Leasing Stadium would mean Marc Skinner’s United had to win by six clear goals, a result that never seemed likely.
Where the Red Devils were stifled by Liverpool’s pressing in midfield, Chelsea enjoyed freedom of the park in Berkshire.
Guro Reiten was afforded too much time to work the ball into a crossing position and the Norwegian’s silky footwork got her up to the byline, delivering a teasing ball for Sam Kerr to head home after she’d passed her marker with ease.
Though Reading briefly threatened when Justine Vanhaevermaet put a header wide from close range, the hosts would soon become architects of their own downfall. Easther Mayi Kith failed to deal with what looked a simple long ball, allowing Reiten to pounce and double Chelsea’s lead on the stroke of half-time.
The second-half passed largely without incident at Reading until Kerr bagged a brace after a quick one-two with the post in the dying embers, although United fans did get something to toast what has been a brilliant season when Lucia Garcia scored a late goal at Prenton Park.
For Chelsea, there were emotional goodbyes to Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson as two stalwarts of success bid farewell to the club.
That, however, is unlikely to be enough to see them cede much ground to their rivals. United had nominally pushed them all the way this season and it still felt like a forgone conclusion on the final day.
The dynasty continues.
