We suffered an early setback when Viviane Asseyi gave the hosts the lead on 17 minutes. In response, we created chances to draw level and Guro Reiten came closest with a left-footed strike which clipped the crossbar, but we were left trailing by a single goal at the break.

The Blues kept pushing and found an equaliser midway through the second half thanks to a lovely strike by Mia Fishel, who swivelled in the box before smashing a shot into the top corner. However, there would be no winner in 90 minutes, meaning this FA Cup tie went to extra time.

There was only one team in it for the additional 30 minutes though. Erin Cuthbert headed us into the lead at the back post from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's cross and shortly after, Aggie Beever-Jones made the victory safe with a deft lob following good work by Melanie Leupolz.

Hammer blow

Emma Hayes named a strong starting line-up for the visit of West Ham to Kingsmeadow. Zecira Musovic kept guard in goal behind a back four of Eve Perisset, Jess Carter, Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence.

Captain Sophie Ingle partnered Erin Cuthbert in midfield while Guro Reiten, Lauren James and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd formed an attacking trio behind Fran Kirby. Meanwhile, new signing Nathalie Bjorn was amongst the substitutes after completing her move from Everton this week.

We got our first game of the New Year underway in our traditional blue home strip, while West Ham wore their claret and blue attire. A couple of openings came our way inside the opening ten minutes. James tried her luck from distance after some good work from Reiten to retain possession, before the Norwegian teed up Cuthbert who headed wide of the target.

Despite conjuring some early sights on goal, West Ham stunned the home crowd when they opened the scoring on 17 minutes courtesy of Asseyi. The France international took the ball under her spell before firing across Musovic and into the bottom corner, giving the visitors the lead and leaving the Blues to go in search of a response.

As the half hour mark approached, we continued to probe for an equaliser. Buchanan rose highest and guided a header into the side netting after a deep free-kick from Perisset, before Reiten watched in anguish as her effort clipped the crossbar in spite of the offside flag being raised on the far side.

On the cusp of half-time, Perisset watched a well-struck free-kick tipped around the post by Hammers skipper Mackenzie Arnold. We sustained a wave of pressure, but the visitors stood firm to protect their slender lead going into the interval where the Blues would need to regroup after a frustrating opening 45 minutes.

Fishing for compliments

West Ham got the second half underway in bright sunshine, but it was the Blues who needed a bright spark to bring us back into the contest. We enjoyed an early spell of possession but almost came unstuck only for a brilliant block by Buchanan to deny Riko Ueki, before hitting the crossbar for a second time after Lawrence let fly from range.

Hayes rang the changes with a triple substitution just before the hour mark. Carter, Ingle and Kirby made way for Mia Fishel, Melanie Leupolz and Bjorn, who received a warm welcome on her Chelsea debut. Moments later, James came within inches of levelling the tie with a curling left-footed strike which swerved agonisingly wide of the post.

Some intricate play in and around the penalty area resulted in Fishel seeing a header pushed over the crossbar, but our No2 was penalised for a foul in the process. A deep corner then fell to debutant Bjorn at the back post, but the Swede could only find the side netting as we continued to push relentlessly for an equalising goal.

Our patience and persistence were finally rewarded when Fishel levelled the scoring with an emphatic finish on 70 minutes. She took the ball under her spell with her back to goal, turning and smashing the ball into the roof of the net before performing her trademark ‘Big Fish’ celebration in front of the jubilant home support.

Not finished yet

We kept pushing for the winner but couldn't create a clear-cut chance, our best opening falling to James with the very last kick of injury time, but she couldn't keep her effort down and an additional 30 minutes of extra time beckoned.

10 minutes into those added 30 and Chelsea had the lead for the first time in the game, and deservedly so as our dominance had only grown in extra time. Cuthbert's original effort from range was blocked, but Leupolz did well to keep the move going. When it ended with Rytting Kaneryd lifting a cross towards the back post, there was Cuthbert rising highest to head in.

Before long we were two ahead with another fine goal. Leupolz was key again, scooping a pass into the box for substitute Beever-Jones, who had only been on the pitch a matter of moments. The young striker expertly lifted the ball over the keeper from a tight angle. Sjoeke Nusken got a touch on its way in, but the ball had already crossed the line and it was Aggie's goal.

There was no way back for West Ham from that double blow and Chelsea were able to control the second half of extra time in relative comfort to make sure our defence of the Women's FA Cup would continue, despite this early scare.

What it means

Victory this afternoon sees our name go into the hat for the FA Cup fifth round draw, which is due to take place on Monday 15 January at 7.30pm (UK time) on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club and will also be streamed on BBC iPlayer.

What’s next?

Having made our return to competitive action on home soil at Kingsmeadow, the Blues will begin to prepare for a return to Stamford Bridge next Sunday 21 January where we take on Manchester United as the Women’s Super League makes its hotly anticipated return.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Musovic, Lawrence, Carter (Bjorn 58), Buchanan, Perisset; Ingle (c) (Leupolz 58), Cuthbert; Reiten (Nusken 90+3), James (Beever-Jones 105), Rytting Kaneryd; Kirby (Fishel 58)
Unused Subs: Hampton, Fleming, Mjelde, Cankovic
Scorers: Fishel 70, Cuthbert 101, Beever-Jones 105+2
Booked: Reiten 87, Nusken 109

West Ham United (3-4-2-1): Arnold (c); Shimizu, Cooke (Ademiluyi 110), Tysiak; Smith, Hayashi, Snerle (Ziu 62), Zadorsky; Gorry (Denton 74), Asseyi; Ueki (Harries 80)
Unused Subs: Walsh, O’Hanlon, Atkinson, Stapleton, Flannery
Scorer: Asseyi 17
Booked: Tysiak 12, Shimizu 44, Arnold 68, Gorry 72

Referee: Emily Heaslip