It had been a close contest at Villa Park with both sides having a number of chances to take the lead throughout. But, it was Sonia Bompastor's side who got the opener, courtesy of Sarah Mayling turning the ball into her own net from close range in the 82nd minute.

The win means Chelsea remain top of the table, now with 37 points after 13 games played. Bompastor's side are unbeaten in all four competitions this season, an impressive run which currently stands at 21 matches.

Changes made

Head coach Bompastor made five changes to her starting XI following last weekend's London derby win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, with Ashley Lawrence, Wieke Kaptein, Aggie Beever-Jones, Guro Reiten and Lauren James all introduced to the side at Villa Park.

Deadline day signings goalkeeper Femke Liefting and midfielder Keira Walsh were both named in their first Chelsea matchday squads, starting on the substitutes' bench.

There was little to split the two sides inside the opening 10 minutes, with our first opportunity arriving when Kaptein picked out James from midfield, allowing our No10 to burst forward. But, before she could get a shot away the danger was cleared by Villa defender Lucy Parker.

The home side were soon gifted a chance when a loose pass out from Hannah Hampton found its way to Gabi Nunes, who looked to chip the Blues goalkeeper, but she was alert to gather it in the air.

James registered the best effort of the match so far with 16 minutes on the clock, but was again denied by Parker. Our forward latched on to a ball teed up by Catarina Macario and sent a strike towards goal that was cleared behind for a corner by the Villa defender.

From another set-piece, a dangerous ball was whipped into the box from Macario that was first met by the head of Niamh Charles before the rebound dropped to the feet of Erin Cuthbert, who hit her shot wide.

Another opportunity was fashioned from a corner soon after, with Macario again sending an inviting ball into the box. Captain Millie Bright connected with it and flicked her head goalwards, but it was collected by Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo.

At the other end, Bright put herself in a great position inside the box to make a clearance, when Kirsty Hanson flashed a ball across the face of goal from the left wing.

The final touch of the first half saw James fire her strike from the edge of the area, with the score goalless at half-time despite a number of opportunities for both sides.

Looking to break the deadlock

With the Blues looking to net the opener, Bompastor made one attacking change at half-time with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd coming on to replace Reiten, before Mayra Ramirez and Sjoeke Nusken entered the fray for Beever-Jones and Kaptein in the 56th minute.

Our first shot of the second half came from Macario, who unleashed a powerful strike from distance, which stung the palms of D'Angelo as she collected it.

The Blues forward looked to test the home goalkeeper soon after when she sent a low free-kick towards the bottom corner which was cut out by a diving D'Angelo. That would be Macario's last involvement in the game, as she was then replaced by Maika Hamano.

The home side went close when they hit the Blues on the break with Rachel Daly playing through Hanson, who sent a strike towards goal from distance which was pushed onto the bar by the fingertips of Hampton.

It was then time for the visitors to have a go from range, as substitute Nusken hit a shot from distance, but the midfielder's effort sailed over the top of the woodwork.

Another opportunity arrived moments later for Bompastor's side when Ramirez saw her strike from a tight angle inside the box blocked by defender Parker.

There was a Chelsea debut for midfielder Walsh in the 77th minute as she came on for her first appearance, replacing James late on.

With eight minutes left to be played, the deadlock was finally broken, as the Blues took the lead thanks to an own goal from Mayling. Ramirez sent an inviting pass towards Hamano, who was waiting a couple yards out from goal, but before it could reach her the ball was turned into the back of the net by the Villa defender.

What it means

We now sit atop the WSL table with 37 points after 13 games played. The Blues are 10 clear of second-placed Arsenal, and Manchester United who are in third also with 27 points, with the latter able to cut our advantage to seven when they play Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

What next

It is back-to-back cup duties for the Blues next week as we host West Ham United on Wednesday evening in the semi-finals of the Subway Women's League Cup at Kingsmeadow, before returning to our home turf on Sunday to face Everton in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The teams

Aston Villa: D'Angelo' Maritz, Patten, Parker, Mayling, Baijings, Nobbs (Salmon 90), Grant (Leon 77), Daly, Hanson (Robinson 90), Nunes (Taylor 65)
Unused subs: Talbert, Turner, Tomas
Booked: Baijings 61, Daly 90+7

Chelsea: Hampton; Lawrence, Bjorn, Bright (c), Charles; Cuthbert, Kaptein (Nusken 56); Beever-Jones (Ramirez 56), Macario (Hamano 63), Reiten (Rytting Kaneryd 46); James (Walsh 77)
Unused subs: Liefting, Mpome, Brown, Jean-Francois
Scorer: Mayling og 82