After Arsenal lost 5-2 to Aston Villa earlier in the evening, Chelsea knew that a single point was enough for us to become champions.

The 1-0 win was hard fought, as Manchester United – themselves third in the table – pushed the Blues all the way. Yet winning is in our DNA, as we once again found a way to secure the trophy with a narrow win on the night.

The first half was end-to-end as both sides had chances to take the lead. Some last-ditch defending from the home side kept the Blues out, while Hannah Hampton was on top form between the sticks to keep the score goalless.

Man Utd came out from the second half fighting, and it took some brilliant work from Hampton and United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to keep the scores at 0-0.

But with just over a quarter of an hour remaining, we had the breakthrough. Sandy Baltimore was on hand with yet another assist as she delivered an inswinging corner that Bronze connected with courtesy of a flicked header.

It was enough to seal the three points, in what is still an unbeaten campaign for Sonia Bompastor.

Chelsea are WSL champions again.

Bompastor made just two changes from the team that played Barcelona last Sunday, bringing in Wieke Kaptein and Aggie Beever-Jones for Sjoeke Nusken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Chances at both ends

After a fairly even first ten minutes, Beever-Jones forced a save from Tullis-Joyce, although the stop ended up a fairly routine one. The United 'keeper was then given a tougher test by Mayra Ramirez, as she blasted a shot towards goal from a tight angle, but the USA international was equal to it.

The Reds showed they were a threat on the counter as the hosts hit back almost immediately with an attack of their own. Hampton pulled off a save from point-blank range, before Naomi Girma blocked the follow-up shot on the line.

An enforced substitution from Bompastor came just before the half hour mark. Ramirez could not continue due to injury, prompting the coach to move Beever-Jones into the central striker role and bring on Rytting Kaneryd to play on the wing.

A tale of two 'keepers

That stoppage seemed to give the Blues fresh impetus and had a string of chances. Erin Cuthbert, Baltimore and Kaptein all had chances blocked in and around the box.

Yet this was a tough test against the side sitting third in the Women's Super League, and United raced up the other end. Hampton came to the rescue once again as first she quickly stifled Melvine Malard's attempt, before brilliantly tipping Grace Clinton's shot over the bar.

Into the second half and the home side came out with their tails up. Malard stung the gloves of Hampton within two minutes of the restart, and then had to get down low to make another save just a few minutes later from a Celin Bizet shot.

The match was becoming a tale of two goalkeepers, as an excellent triple save from Tullis-Joyce first kept out a long range attempt from Beever-Jones, then stopped the rebound shot from Rytting Kaneryd, before finally pouncing on Cuthbert's attempt to halt the relentless attack.

The breakthrough

No matter what is facing them, Chelsea always find a way and on 74 minutes, Baltimore swung in a corner for Bronze to flick a header past the outcoming Tullis-Joyce.

The title was near.

Substitute Catarina Macario let a shot fly towards goal with the outside of her boot, but that strike was once again kept out by Tullis-Joyce.

And we managed the game well in the latter stages to hold on and secure a sixth consecutive WSL title.

What it means

The title has been sealed with two games remaining, marking a remarkable opening WSL campaign from Sonia Bompastor. The Blues will compete for one final trophy, again against Man United in an FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday 18 May.

What comes next

Chelsea face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday in further Women's Super League action.

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton; Bronze, Bright (c), Girma, Charles; Walsh; Kaptein, Cuthbert (Nusken 57'); Baltimore (Reiten 75') Beever-Jones (Macario 75'), Ramirez (Rytting Kaneryd 27', Hamano 75')
Substitutes not used: Spencer, Nusken, Macario, Reiten, Lawrence, Rytting Kaneryd, Hamano, Mpome, Jean-Francois
Scorers: Bronze 74'

Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce, George (Sandberg 70'), Le Tissier (c), Clinton (Toone 63'), Malard (Terland 63'), Galton, Riviere (Mannion 84'), Bizet (Naalsund 84'), Janssen, Miya Zawa, Turner
Substitutes not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Mannion, Sandberg, Awujo, Naalsund, Toone, Griffiths, Terland
Booked: Malard 48'

Referee: Abi Byrne