Chelsea Women keep the pressure on top two after thrashing Bristol City Women

Hat-tricks from Fran Kirby and Bethany England saw Chelsea cruise to victory over Bristol City and keep their title hopes alive.

Kirby took just two minutes to show why she was restored to the starting line-up after numerous games on the bench. The striker, who was named in England’s squad for the SheBelieves Cup, collected a pass from Erin Cuthbert and slotted home to give the Blues an early lead.

Just a few minutes later, Bristol City were even further behind. Cuthbert again provided the assist as her low cross was clipped in by the in-form Bethany England.

Ella Rutherford had a few half-chances for Bristol are they looked to get back into the game but neither of her efforts troubled Carly Telford in goal with one hitting the side netting.

Cuthbert nearly had a hat-trick of assists when she won the ball back in the box and squared it to England but her shot sailed high over the bar.

With just over half an hour gone, Kirby doubled her tally for the evening after taking a ball over the top from Sophie Ingle and curling a shot into the top corner to put the game to bed.

In contrast to the goalless draw between the sides in September, Chelsea had found their shooting boots and they weren’t afraid to put them to good use.

England bagged her second brace in four days. This time it was Ramona Bachmann’s excellent cross that England got on the end of for her second goal of the game.

In the 82nd minute, substitute Engman was brought down in the box and Kirby duly converted from the spot to secure her hat-trick. Despite getting three goals, Kirby was still searching for more. She shifted the ball onto her right foot and tried to curl it in but it was just wide.

With two minutes remaining, England made it two hat-tricks in one game for Chelsea after rising highest to head home and send the fans wild.

The match was barely a contest from the fifth minute when Chelsea went 2-0 up. Chelsea remain third on 32 points after Manchester City and Arsenal won their fixtures and Bristol remain fifth on 22 points.

Chelsea Starting XI: Telford, Blundell (Carter 69), Andersson (Riley 69), Eriksson, Cooper, Ingle, Ji (Engman 73), Kirby, England, Cuthbert, Bachmann

Substitutions: Berger, Asante, Carter, Carney, Riley, Engman, Spence

Bristol City Starting XI: Baggaley, Dykes, Evans (Woolley 86), Kerkdijk, Pattinson, Brown, Humphrey, Biesmans, Kemppi (Ayane 52), Rutherford, Harrison (Wilson 77)

Substitutions: Cumings, Payne, Ayane, Wilson, Woolley

Attendance: 1,821