Chelsea Women's Under-18s, who play in the PGA Under-21 Women's League, took the lead through captain Keira Johnson before an own goal doubled our advantage. Palace pulled one back, but Gabi Storey struck just before half-time to send the Blues into the break 3-1 ahead.

Carla Gardiner, Aysia Matabaro and substitute Annie Boichat added further goals after the interval.

Leanne Champ’s side created plenty of chances and worked hard defensively when required to continue our positive start to the campaign.

Blues ahead

Chelsea’s patience in possession was rewarded after 19 minutes. The ball was worked around the back line to Sophie Leach, whose pass through the Palace shape found Storey.

The midfielder turned and lifted the ball over the defence for Matabaro, who beat her marker to reach the byline and pulled a cross back for the arriving Johnson to power home first time.

Sadie Gregory replaced Emelia Addison a minute later and Chelsea doubled the lead on 34 minutes after another well-worked move. Quick passing moved the visitors out of position, allowing Leach to find Johnson between the lines. They combined to release Maisie Brickell on the right, and she took a positive first touch towards goal before skipping past two defenders.

Her cross took a deflection off a Palace defender and reached the goalkeeper, who spilled the ball over the line for an own goal.

Palace reduced the deficit five minutes later, capitalising on a transition in Chelsea’s defensive half, but the Blues restored our two-goal cushion before the interval.

Two-goal advantage restored

Brickell and Matabaro combined down the right in the 44th minute and, although the visitors defended Matabaro’s shot well, Chelsea’s midfield reacted quickly to regain possession. Storey collected the ball on the edge of the box, shifted it out of her feet and struck from 20 yards, sending her effort across goal and into the bottom corner.

Champ made three changes at half-time, with Zoe Ciccardini, Tess Finn and Jahyma Putman replacing Elise Christian, Storey and Chelsea N’Drin.

Ciccardini was involved as Chelsea added a fourth eight minutes after the restart. She won the first contact from a Palace throw-in, and Johnson gathered the loose ball centrally before spotting Gardiner’s run between the two centre-backs.

Johnson’s pass released the forward, who showed composure as the goalkeeper rushed off her line and dived at her feet. Gardiner took the ball around her and passed into the empty net.

Matabaro and Boichat on target

Matabaro added our fifth on 67 minutes at the end of another flowing move. Ciccardini took a quick throw-in down the left to Matabaro, who turned as Chelsea worked the ball back around to Finn.

Finn played forward to Rebekah Pierce on the edge of the box, and she combined with Johnson to find Brickell out wide. Another dangerous delivery across the box picked out Matabaro, who finished first time.

Boichat replaced Gardiner in the same minute and needed just eight minutes to add her name to the scoresheet.

Chelsea were awarded a free-kick down the side of the penalty area, and Brickell floated her delivery over the wall towards the players waiting at the far post. Boichat met it with a header that struck the crossbar and went in to complete the scoring.

What it means

The result continues Chelsea’s winning start to the Professional Game Academy South League season. After two matches, the Blues have six points, with 14 goals scored and just one conceded.

What’s next?

Chelsea travel to Southampton for our next Professional Game Academy South League fixture on Wednesday 2 September. We then head to Swindon Town in the Women’s National League Cup on Sunday 6 September.

Team

Women’s Under-18s (4-3-3): Bella Bartlett; Elise Christian (Zoe Ciccardini 45), Sophie Leach, Emelia Addison (Sadie Gregory 20), Maisie Brickell; Gabi Storey (Tess Finn 45), Chelsea N’Drin (Jahyma Putman 45), Keira Johnson (c); Rebekah Pierce, Carla Gardiner (Annie Boichat 67), Aysia Matabaro
Scorers: Johnson 19, own goal 34, Storey 44, Gardiner 53, Matabaro 67, Boichat 75
Booked: Gregory 84
Manager: Leanne Champ