At the Chigwell Construction Stadium, Catarina Macario put the Blues ahead after 11 minutes with her second WSL goal this season, before Cuthbert netted on her milestone appearance to double our advantage less than 10 minutes later.

It was 3-0 at the break with Aggie Beever-Jones scoring her second goal in as many games on the stroke of half-time to extend our hard-earned lead.

We soon picked up where we left off as seven minutes into the second half, the Blues were 4-0 up with Sandy Baltimore getting herself on the scoresheet with a stunning strike in front of the away fans. An own goal five minutes from time wrapped up proceedings in Dagenham.

The win means the Blues sit at the top of the WSL table with 31 points at the league's halfway point, and are now unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions this season.

Blues in control

Three changes were made to the starting XI by head coach Sonia Bompastor from last weekend's FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic, with Sjoeke Nusken, Niamh Charles and Beever-Jones all introduced to the line-up.

The Blues applied early pressure, winning several corners, with one being the result of a shot deflected behind after Beever-Jones unleashed a strike from distance when she latched on to a loose pass from goalkeeper Kinga Szemik.

Skipper Millie Bright connected with another corner whipped in by Baltimore which then dropped to the feet of Nusken only a couple yards out from goal, but the German midfielder could not create a meaningful connection.

Macario left West Ham stunned when she netted Chelsea in front with a stunning volley on her left foot after connecting with Nusken, who she played a smart one-two with to work the ball into the West Ham box.

The American forward wanted her second and she was in great space to do so moments later when the ball was cut back by Beever-Jones, leaving Macario to tap the ball home from a few yards out, but she could not keep her effort down and it went over the bar.

There was another chance to double our advantage when Baltimore sent a dangerous-looking cross to the back post which was met by the head of Mayra Ramirez and then gathered on the ground by goalkeeper Szemik.

It was the visitors who continued to dominate and we did indeed extend our lead in the 21st minute. And who else could it be but Cuthbert, who netted in each of our matches against West Ham last season and was today marking a milestone appearance for the Blues.

The Scottish midfielder hit a powerful low-driving shot into the bottom corner for her second league goal this term.

It should have been 3-0 to the Blues on the half-hour mark when Ramirez cut the ball back from the byline to find Beever-Jones who saw her header cleared off the line by Anouk Denton, before Nusken's rebound dropped the wrong side of the post.

The home side's first opportunity arrived as the first half came to a close. Seraina Piubel made a great run and found herself in space, but failed to trouble Hannah Hampton as she fired her strike wide of the post.

But soon after at the other end, it was 3-0 to the Blues and it was scored by Beever-Jones. A delightful strike from distance soared into the back of the net, hitting the inside of the post on its way to extending our lead.

And before the half was up, it was so close to being four. Ramirez fired a cross in from the right flank which saw Baltimore unleash a shot goalwards, but she was denied at point-blank range by Szimek who made a good diving stop.

Three goals to the good

The visitors wasted no time in looking for goal number four with the ball being passed around following a corner before landing at the feet of Baltimore who sent a curling shot just too high over the crossbar.

Baltimore did get her goal though and what a strike it was. Just a moment after missing her previous chance, the French winger made no mistake this time as she fired a powerful effort from outside the area that left Szemik with no chance.

The hosts looked to net a consolation goal with 20 minutes remaining when Riko Ueki sent a powerful strike towards the Chelsea goal on the edge of the box, however, she was denied by an alert Hampton who collected the ball comfortably.

A smart backheel from substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd saw her link up with Oriane Jean-Francois down the right, with the latter picking out the Swedish international who then hit the side netting from close range.

There was almost a fifth goal from substitute Ashley Lawrence, but her powerful drive was denied by Szemik before Maika Hamano looked to bury the rebound. The home goalkeeper did well to make a second stop in quick succession.

It was 5-0 thanks to an own goal when a Cuthbert pass, seemingly intended for an awaiting Beever-Jones a couple yards out from goal, was diverted into the back of the West Ham net by Amber Tysiak late on.

What it means...

A deserved win against West Ham means Bompastor's side remain top of the table with 31 points. We are unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions, with all but one of those encounters in ending victory.

What next...

The Blues return to action on Wednesday evening when we get our League Cup underway in the quarter-finals, hosting Championship side Durham at Kingsmeadow.

Our next WSL match is next weekend's London derby against Arsenal at Stamford. You can buy your tickets for that clash on 26 January here!

The teams

West Ham: Szemik; Smith, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Denton, Gorry, Li Mengwen (Cooke 75), Siren (Martinez 46), Piubel (Pavi 78), Asseyi, Ueki
Unused substitutes: Walsh, Bergman-Lundin, Harries, Saez, Houssein, Ademiluyi
Booked: Gorry 87

Chelsea: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Charles (Lawrence 71), Nusken (Jean-Francois 61), Cuthbert, Baltimore (Reiten 61), Macario (Hamano 61), Beever-Jones, Ramirez (Rytting Kaneryd 71)
Unused substitutes: Musovic, Perisset, Bernabe, Mpome
Scorers: Macario 11, Cuthbert 21, Beever-Jones 44, Baltimore 52, Tysiak (OG) 85