With four games left the Blues are one point ahead of second-placed Arsenal as Hayes’ side search for a third consecutive league title.

A goal from Jessie Fleming and braces from Bethany England and Sam Kerr ensured we cruised to an emphatic 5-0 victory.

Hayes made two changes to the side who triumphed 9-0 away to Leicester City last weekend, with Magdalena Eriksson and Fleming returning to the starting 11.

Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder remained unavailable for selection due to illness and injury, while Ji So-Yun and Lauren James were also missing from the squad this evening.

The Blues set the tone for a one-sided game from the off as Hayes’ side dictated play from minute one at Kingsmeadow.

Guro Reiten and Fleming linked up well on the flanks, the pair combined early on with Fleming whipping in a cross at the near post for our No.11 to flick on, but it went just wide of Grace Moloney’s goal.

Reiten controlled proceedings in midfield, while Kerr and England proved all too much for the Reading defence.

Our first real chance of the afternoon came through Fleming. Cuthbert did well to tee up the Canadian at the edge of the box, however her curling effort flew just wide of the goal.

The Blues came close again through England, our No.9 met Reiten’s corner with power however her effort was straight at Moloney.

Hayes’ side were really knocking at the door, looking for an opener as the half went on. A number of shots were blocked one after each other, with former Blue Deanna Cooper making a number of key blocks at the back for Reading.

We took a deserved lead five minutes before the interval through Fleming. After a neat attacking move, the ball was crossed into the box for England to nod the ball to Fleming who did well to control with her chest and then strike past Moloney for her seventh of the season.

Hayes’ side started the second half in similar fashion to the first, on the front foot. Sophie Ingle came close five minutes into proceedings when she found space at the edge of the box, but her effort flew inches wide of the net.

We doubled our lead moments later through a spectacular England strike. Our No.9 won the ball back in the final third, threaded it through to Reiten before sprinting into the box to superbly volley home the Norwegian’s cross.

The Blues had a brilliant chance to make it three shortly after, this time Cuthbert found herself in space at the edge of the box but struck just too wide of the goal.

We did make it three with 25 minutes left. Kerr scored her seventh consecutive goal in the WSL after a fine move in the final third. Reiten did well to pinch the ball from Bryson before powering forward and squaring the ball to Kerr who made no mistake in firing home from six yards out.

Our No.20 was on the scoresheet again not long after. Cuthbert received the ball on the left wing and drilled the ball across the face of goal allowing Kerr to tap in her 16th WSL goal this season.

We got our fifth and final goal of the evening in stoppage time after England was hacked down in the penalty area. Our No.9 stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards out, placing her penalty in the top left-hand corner to round off a perfect evening for the Blues.

It’s international break now. Hayes’ side are back in action on Sunday 17 April when we take on Arsenal in the semi-final of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.

Chelsea (3-5-2): Musovic; Eriksson, Nouwen (Mjelde 78), Bright; Reiten (Andersson 78), Fleming (Abdullina 81), Ingle, Cuthbert (Spence 81), Carter (Charles 78); Kerr, EnglandUnused subs Berger, ThompsonScorers Fleming 40, England 52, 90, Kerr 65, 77

Reading (5-4-1): Moloney; Woodham, Evans, Harding (Primmer 79), Cooper, Bryson; Rose, Peplow, Eikeland, Harries (Troeslgaard 56); RoweUnused subs Stewart, Dowie, RobertsBooked Chambers 53

Referee Emily HeaslipCrowd 2,485