Sophie Leach, Tess Finn and Rebekah Pierce were on target before half-time, and Stevie Sinclair (pictured top) scored a second-half hat-trick before substitute Jahmya Putman added two more. Sinclair was involved in all three first-half goals, providing the assists for Leach and Pierce.

Leanne Champ's side had most of the ball throughout and created many chances, and they also kept a clean sheet in this behind-closed-doors fixture.

Set-pieces put Blues in control

Chelsea opened the scoring after 20 minutes from a corner. Sinclair sent an inswinging delivery in from the left, and Leach made good movement in the box to rise and head across goal into the net.

With half-time approaching, the Blues doubled our lead with another corner routine. Sinclair played it short to captain Gabi Storey and collected the return on the outside of the box before driving a pass across the six-yard area. Ipswich cleared the first ball, but Finn was in a good supporting position to regain possession. She took a touch to set herself and finished into the bottom right corner.

The third goal came on the stroke of half-time. Emelia Addison's throw from high on the left found Sinclair's forward run. Her lofted cross was met by Pierce at the back post, and she finished low and hard first time past the goalkeeper.

Sinclair hat-trick caps big win

Champ made two changes at the break, with Annie Boichat and Keira Johnson replacing Addison and Storey. Three more followed on the hour as Amelia Fahey, Putman and Elise Christian came on for Chelsea N'Drin, Carla Gardiner and Pierce.

Sadie Gregory won the ball from an Ipswich throw to start the move for the fourth goal on 67 minutes. Putman found Sinclair's run into a central area. The Ipswich defence got a touch as Sinclair tried to combine with Christian, but she reacted quickly to win it back and fire in from a wide angle.

Our desire to win the ball back produced the fifth goal five minutes later. Christian pressed the Ipswich full-back after a goal kick, and Sinclair's pressure from behind forced a misplaced pass straight to Johnson. Johnson quickly found Sinclair, who took a touch on the edge of the box and curled past the goalkeeper with her left foot.

Chelsea scored again within a minute. Leach won the first contact from the restart, and she combined with Boichat, Finn and Christian. Christian then advanced and played the ball over the top for Putman. The striker controlled well, took the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper and slotted into the empty net.

Sinclair completed her hat-trick on 77 minutes. Boichat won the ball and found Johnson, who combined with Sinclair on the edge of the box. This time Sinclair struck powerfully into the goal with the outside of her right foot.

Putman added her second seven minutes from time. Aysia Matabaro received the ball in our defensive third and switched the play long to Christian, whose first-time pass found Putman's central run. She took one touch and placed her finish across goal.

What it means

The victory means Chelsea have completed our fixtures in the PGA South Division and sit top of the table with 15 points. We have scored 28 goals and conceded four.

The result followed our first defeat of the season against Arsenal. The Blues now await the second phase of PGA fixtures in Division 1.

What's next?

Chelsea return to Women's National League Cup action on Sunday 27 September, when we travel to Maidenhead United for our final group game. A draw or a win would take the Blues through to the knockout stages.

Team

Chelsea (3-4-3): Freya Weeks; Emelia Addison (Annie Boichat 45), Sadie Gregory, Sophie Leach; Gabi Storey (c) (Keira Johnson 45), Tess Finn, Chelsea N'Drin (Amelia Fahey 60), Stevie Sinclair; Carla Gardiner (Jahmya Putman 60), Aysia Matabaro, Rebekah Pierce (Elise Christian 60)
Scorers: Leach 20, Finn 40, Pierce 45, Sinclair 67, 72, 77, Putman 73, 83
Booked: N'Drin 30
Manager: Leanne Champ