Chelsea moved to the top of the Women's Super League table as they eased to a comfortable 3-0 home win over Aston Villa, who played virtually the entire game with 10 players after the sending off of goalkeeper Anna Leat.

Emma Hayes' side squeaked ahead of Manchester City at the summit with four games to play, deposing the leaders on goal difference after efforts from Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano and Kadeisha Buchanan ensured they took advantage of the visitors' early misfortune.

The game turned on the decision to dismiss Leat when she handled outside the box in a desperate attempt to keep Sjoeke Nusken's effort from rolling in.

Aggie Beever-Jones scored the opening goal as Chelsea beat Aston Villa 3-0 to go top of the Women's Super League

The New Zealand international was herself deputising for injured number one Daphne van Domselaar, leading to an unscripted debut for Carla Ward's third-choice goalkeeper, the 17-year-old Sophia Poor.

For Hayes' side, it was a commanding win that saw them narrowly reclaim their place at the top. They lead City by two goals, and the manager was vindicated in her decision to make seven changes from the team that lost to Manchester United in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.