The objective ahead of kick-off on a balmy Sunday lunchtime in KT1 was quite simple for Emma Hayes’ side – match or better Arsenal’s result and we’d be champions for the fifth time, plus a Spring Series won in 2017. What followed across the next 90 minutes, however, was anything but straightforward.

In a nervy first half we trailed twice, going behind early on to a header from Martha Thomas and then again to Ella Toone’s deflected volley after Erin Cuthbert had smashed us level after a long throw dropped invitingly at her feet inside the box.

Hayes had a big team talk ahead of her at the break, but clearly her words – and two substitutions – had the desired effect as we came racing out of the blocks and drew level within a minute of the restart.

Kerr was the scorer with a goal of the season contender, as she leathered home an unstoppable left-footed volley from the edge of the box that flew past Mary Earps and into the back of the net. Kingsmeadow erupted.

The noise was even louder five minutes later when a brilliant move was instigated by the departing Ji So-Yun on her final Kingsmeadow appearance, taken on by Pernille Harder and then brilliantly finished by Guro Reiten, who scored her fifth goal in the final seven WSL games of the campaign.

Across the other side of London, Arsenal scored two quick-fire goals at West Ham to leave us knowing that anything less than a win on our own patch would dethrone us, but any late nerves went out the window courtesy of another Kerr stunner.

Although Earps’ sloppy clearance was straight onto the head of Reiten, there was still so much for Kerr to do as she took an awkward ball on her chest with 25 yards between her and the goal. What followed was nothing short of world-class, as she sent a perfectly weighted lob over the backpedalling goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

It was her 20th of the season to secure the WSL Golden Boot for a second straight year, and it was arguably even better than the one she’d scored at the start of the half. The celebrations that followed showed that we knew the job was almost done, although there was still 25 minutes left on the clock.

By this stage, though, we were in complete control and the result was rarely in doubt. The performance in the second half had truly been that of champions, and the final whistle confirmed as much.

Champions of England yet again. But still Hayes and her players will want more, and with an FA Cup final to come next week, the celebrations of today will quickly give way to preparation for that one. This relentless winning machine simply does not stop.

The team news ahead of kick-off showed two changes to the line-up that won at Birmingham City a week earlier, as Jonna Andersson – who has made telling contributions from the bench of late – and Cuthbert came in for Jessie Fleming and Bethany England. For Andersson it was a start for her last appearance at Kingsmeadow, but fellow departees Drew Spence and Ji had to settle for a spot on the bench.

Ann-Katrin Berger was in goal once more, behind a back four of Jess Carter, Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson and Andersson. The midfield four of Niamh Charles, Cuthbert, Sophie Ingle and Reiten had Harder in front of them, with Kerr leading the line.

Hayes has stated numerous times this season how important the crowd at Kingsmeadow has been, and there was a full house for this one. As the manager made the walk to the dugout before the game, she whipped up her arms to get the crowd going; the roar that followed when Eriksson led her team-mates onto the pitch was spinetingling. All the talking, the planning and everything else was done – all that mattered was the 90 minutes in front of them.

The atmosphere was electric, the sun was shining – as it should on the final day of the league campaign – but the only thing missing at the start was an early goal to calm all our nerves. Instead, the visitors were applying the pressure, particularly from set-pieces, which resulted in a few nervy moments.

With 12 minutes on the clock, the title race had the twist nobody of a Blue persuasion wanted, as we fell behind. A sloppy free-kick was conceded within crossing range and a teasing delivery was headed beyond Berger by Thomas. Kingsmeadow was momentarily stunned into silence. This wasn’t in the script.

We almost hit back with an immediate response, as we had done after conceding to Tottenham in our last home game, but this time Charles couldn’t get enough behind her shot to trouble Earps. It mattered not, for a few minutes later we drew level through Cuthbert. A long throw from Carter wasn’t dealt with by the visiting defence and the wily Scot was the quickest to react, thumping a low finish into the bottom corner.

The mood at Kingsmeadow was now very different, fans and players alike suddenly buoyant. Chelsea were firmly on the front foot, but still set-pieces were a huge concern and an acrobatic volley from former Blues defender Maria Thorisdottir was brilliantly blocked by Kerr. From the resulting corner, another with links to the club, Alessia Russo, headed over after Berger misjudged the flight of the ball.

Once again, the pressure told, as Manchester United retook the lead midway through the first half. Galton’s cross to the back stick picked out Toone, whose volley clipped off the heels of Andersson to wrongfoot Berger and find the back of the net. We’d conceded two home goals all season in the WSL leading up to this game; that tally had now doubled in the space of 25 minutes.

Our response to going behind for a second time wasn’t as swift as it had been after the first goal, but as the half approached its conclusion we began to look more like our usual selves. Our pressing in the final third was better and it almost led to Kerr going through on goal, only for Harder to put a little too much on her through ball.

The Australian almost did it all herself a few minutes later when she went up for a header, reacted quickest to the loose ball and darted straight for goal, but her shot lacked power and accuracy so Earps was able to gather it comfortably.

When the half-time whistle came, it offered a chance to regroup and Hayes knew she had a big team talk ahead of her as she walked across the pitch towards the dressing room. The news from West Ham was good, as the Hammers were holding Arsenal to a goalless draw. But unless they were to record their first-ever victory over the Gunners, we knew we’d need at least one goal if the WSL title was to remain at Kingsmeadow.

It wasn’t just talking in the dressing room at the break – there were changes, too. England and Ji both came on, replacing Ingle and Andersson in a clear sign of attacking intent ahead of the biggest 45 minutes of the season. What followed was an astonishing start to the second half.

The Blues raced out of the blocks and England’s first involvement was to cause mayhem in the box with a teasing cross. Although the United defence managed to block Cuthbert’s shot, the ball sat up nicely for Kerr to smash home an unstoppable volley. One of the goals of the season, when we needed it most – that’s why she’s FWA Player of the Year! Only 48 seconds had elapsed and whatever Hayes said at half-time had clearly had an impact.

Five minutes later and the turnaround was complete. If the second had been about brute force, this was all about precision. Ji played an inch-perfect through ball – how many times has that been written over the past eight years? – for Harder, who in turn laid it off for Reiten to sweep home a goal that gave us the lead for the first time. Would it be the title-deciding strike?

Having rolled the dice somewhat with her half-time changes, Hayes looked to rein things in a little with her next substitution, as she brought in Aniek Nouwen to play centre-back and shifted Eriksson to left-back. Across the other side of London, meanwhile, Arsenal took the lead at West Ham around the same time as a long stoppage of play in our game for a nasty looking injury to Galton after a collision with Bright near her own corner flag.

There may have been a few nerves among the supporters inside Kingsmeadow at the news from the Arsenal game, but they needn't have worried – Kerr was about to produce a moment of sheer audacity that would surely mean the title was staying put.

Earps didn’t cover herself in glory with a rushed clearance that Reiten headed towards the edge of the box, but when Kerr took an awkward ball on her chest no one could have predicted what she’d do next, as she majestically lofted a volley over the backpedalling keeper and into the back of the net. The look on her face said it all. Simply incredible.

Suddenly the visitors were on the ropes. They were at sixes and sevens trying to deal with a corner kick and somehow the ball was scrambled clear after a quick round of penalty-box pinball. We continued to push for a fifth and Ji almost signed off in style at Kingsmeadow when she cut inside and shot, but it was just the wrong side of the near post.

Harder’s race was run soon after when she went off to a standing ovation, to be replaced by Fleming, and still we continued to apply the pressure. Ji was desperate for one last WSL goal, but every time she shot there seemed to be a United defender in the way.

With seven minutes of stoppage time to be played, Hayes gave Spence a deserved Kingsmeadow swansong. The player she replaced, Kerr, was given a standing ovation and the crowd rose as one to serenade one of our own in her final home appearance as a Blue after 14 years at the club.

Those chants soon gave way to the familiar song that has rung around Kingsmeadow for the past few weeks: ‘Champions of England, we know what we are.’ Finally, the full-time whistle confirmed that fact yet again. For the past three seasons we’ve had a firm grip on the WSL title and the party could begin in earnest. The players streamed onto the pitch in celebration while Hayes hugged her long-serving assistant, and the club’s general manager, Paul Green after yet another triumph together.

For this team, though, there’s still more to come, as we’ve got the small matter of the FA Cup final to come at Wembley next Sunday. Another Double could be on the cards. What a team.

It’s not too late to see us in action one last time in the 2021/22 campaign, as there are still seats available for our game against Manchester City next Sunday. Click here to buy your ticket for that one now!

Chelsea (4-4-1-1) Berger; Carter, Bright, Eriksson (c), Andersson (Ji h/t); Charles (Nouwen 59), Cuthbert, Ingle (England h/t), Reiten; Harder (Fleming 77); Kerr (Spence 90+3)Unused subs Musovic, Mjelde, James, AbdullinaScorers Cuthbert 18, Kerr 46, 66, Reiten 51Booked: Fleming 80

Manchester United (4-2-3-1) Earps; Batlle, Ladd, Thorisdottir, Blundell; Groenen (Bruun 82), Zelem (c); Thomas (Boe Risa 76), Toone, Galton (Hansen 65); RussoUnused subs Baggaley, Harris, Moore, Fuso, Caldwell, SmithScorers Thomas 13, Toone 25Booked Ladd 11

Referee Abigail Byrne

Attendance 4,378