Manchester City have secured the WSL 1 title. All they needed to do against Chelsea today was avoid defeat, and they did just that as goals either side of the break from Jill Scott and Toni Duggan sealed the league and a 2-0 win for Nick Cushing's side over the Blues.
Scott found the net after a corner, whilst Duggan slotted home a penalty as Chelsea struggled to live with the threat of City's attack.
City take lead in feisty first half
The opener came just after the half hour mark with City having three corners in a row before one was finally converted. Duggan swung the ball in, and Scott headed home via a Chelsea defender to send City on their way.
Scott hadn't been at her best before that goal in the first half, but it was a header that inspired her on to win the man of the match award after a superb second half display.
For all the good football that City and Chelsea have played this season, it was the physical battles that stood out in what was quite a feisty first half until the goal.
In the first period Chelsea were keen to get stuck in, something which got the City crowd jeering in all parts of the ground. Blues skipper Katie Chapman was booked in the first half, before a minute later Izzy Christiansen was cautioned for bringing down Chapman when she was on the break.
In the same piece of play however, Scott looked for a free-kick, and perhaps should have had one after a stern tackle brought her down on the edge of the area. From that piece of play Chelsea looked to counter and that was when Christiansen picked up her yellow card.
Duggan penalty seals the title
It was in the second half that the Citizens sealed the WSL crown, and looked hugely impressive, especially in attack as they searched to kill the game off.
Lucy Bronze was excellent as usual, and she burst forward from right back to win the penalty. Gilly Flaherty mistimed her tackle, and Bronze went down under the challenge to win the spot kick. Toni Duggan stepped up, and she sent Rebecca Spencer the wrong way to make it 2-0 and spark jubilant celebrations.
Convincing City but laboured Chelsea
Man City weren't amazing in the first half, but they improved massively in the second half with a very convincing display in all phases of the pitch. Although their second came from the spot, they created chances on a regular basis as they dominated Chelsea. Scott was exceptional in the second half and so was the other scorer Duggan.
Christiansen could have made things even more convincing though, as with 20 minutes left she fired a shot wide after a great reverse ball from Demi Stokes. Meanwhile Kosovare Asllani missed a brilliant chance late on when it looked easier to score.
As for Chelsea, they were the opposite to City as they struggled in attack, in what was one of their worst displays of the season. Eni Aluko was non-existent before she was substituted with 20 minutes remaining whilst Ji struggled throughout large periods of the game. When she did get on the ball though she looked like Chelsea's best source of creativity.
Substitute Bethany England, on for Aluko, had the visitors best chance in the final quarter of the game as she latched onto Mille Bright's through ball, but she stuck her shot straight at Karen Bardsley when one-on-one. Karen Carney fired past the post in the first half after dispossessing Keira Walsh and then Jade Bailey sent one high and wide late on. That was about as good as it got for Emma Hayes' team though.
Fantastic season capped off with league victory
Manchester City have been nothing short of exceptional this season, and their 2-0 win over their nearest title rivals Chelsea today summed up their season. They've been scoring goals regularly, and been keeping clean-sheets on an all too consistent basis.
Today was their fifth clean-sheet in a row, as they cruised to the title conceding just three goals with one game still left to play. Their defence has been phenominal all season, with the likes of Steph Houghton and Bronze rocks at the back. They've meanwhile scored 35 goals in 15 games, which is miles ahead of everyone else, barring Chelsea who have scored just the one more.
However there could be more on the horizon for Cushing and his players who have the chance to do the double next weekend against Birmingham in the Continental Cup final at their own ground. A first Champions League campaign also awaits as they take on Russian outfit Zvezda Perm in a few weeks time.
However for now, Man City can solely focus on their excellent league season and celebrate the WSL crown.