Victory for Hassan Sulaiman's side at Cobham has extended our advantage at the top of the table to five points. Secure another win next weekend over Norwich City and the title – and a place in the national final against Manchester United – will be claimed.

The Blues were made to work hard by Leicester, who competed well throughout the fourth meeting between the two sides this season. Yet we did hold a lead at the break after Donnell McNeilly converted from the penalty shot for his 20th league goal of the campaign at this level.

Leicester responded immediately after the restart as Bobby Amartey fired home from the edge of the penalty area. Yet we regained our composure and a fine flowing move from defence to attack ended with Shumaira Mheuka sliding home our second.

The Foxes hit back when Kirsten Otchere was slipped through on goal to prod home but Sulaiman's side are top of the table for a reason and a thunderous strike from Ato Ampah ensured victory.

Battling hard

The opening 45 minutes was tightly contested but the first sight of goal went the way of Chelsea. A corner was played to the edge of the box to Frankie Runham but his shot was high and wide.

Several fouls disrupted the flow of the opening exchanges yet Leicester should have gone ahead when the ball was flashed across the Chelsea box and found Amartey. His effort wasn't the cleanest, which enabled Luke Campbell to save and deny Laolu Omobolaji on the rebound.

The Blues needed to produce a moment of quality. Shortly after the 20-minute mark, they did so and it led to our opening goal.

An excellent cross-field pass from Reiss Denny enabled Ato Amph to burst into the box, he was brought down and a spot-kick was awarded. McNeilly stepped up and dispatched the penalty with little fuss.

Further chances were hard to come by for the Blues, although Ampah continued to carry a threat and another tricky run into the box ended with him seeing a shot blocked.

An opportunity to test Harry French in the Leicester goal was fashioned late in the half by Mheuka, but his shot from an acute angle was straight at the visiting goalkeeper.

Leicester level

The second period did not start well for the young Blues, as Leicester drew level inside the opening minute. Sulaiman's side were caught trying to build possession from a goal kick, Amartey claimed the ball and bent a shot into the far corner from 20 yards out.

It was on the Blues to respond. They did so just before the hour mark in impressive fashion.

Having won the ball back in our own defensive third, Genesis Antwi and Ampah exchanged passes down the right and broke forward into Leicester territory. Antwi waited for the right moment to release Ampah, he crossed and Mheuka was on hand to convert.

In our previous three meetings, Leicester never threw in the towel. So it proved once more at Cobham as they quickly equalised when Tommy Neale slipped a pass through to Otchere, who coolly slotted beyond Campbell.

Parity was fleeting, however. Soon after the restart, Chelsea mounted an attack through Runham, he found Denny who clipped a ball out to Ampah. He cut inside onto his left foot and crashed a shot into the net via the underside of the bar.

The young Blues didn't settle. We continued to push forward and Mheuka was thwarted by French before another free-flowing Chelsea attack ended with McNeilly firing a shot against the crossbar.

Leicester were kept at arm's length for the remainder of the contest, their best effort came from Otchere late on but he directed his effort from 18 yards beyond Campbell's post.

What it means

The victory has resulted in Chelsea opening up a five-point lead over West Ham. Win next time out and the Blues will claim the title.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Luke Campbell; Genesis Antwi, Travis Akomeah (c), Kaiden Wilson, Saheed Olagunju (Somto Boniface 81); Ollie Harrison (Rio Ngumoha 67), Reiss Denny; Ato Ampah (Shaun Wade 87), Donnell McNeilly, Frankie Runham; Shumaira Mheuka (Ryan McAidoo 87)
Unused sub: Kai Crampton
Scorers: McNeilly pen 25, Mheuka 58, Ampah 65
Booked: Ampah 32, McNeilly 75, Wilson 90, Akomeah 90+1, Runham 90+3, Campbell 90+5

Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Harry French; Jayden Joseph, Liam McAlinney, Kevon Gray (Toby Ononaye 63), Reiss Khela; Tommy Neale, Bobby Amartey; Kirsten Otchere, Louis Page (Kaleb Dyke), Laolu Omobolaji (Jeremy Monga 73); Jake Evans (Ryan Donnelly 80)
Unused sub: Jake Donohue
Scorers: Amartey 46, Otchere 61
Booked: Evans 70, Monga 90+3