Chelsea Women 3-0 Everton Women
Chelsea Women returned to the top of the Women's Super League (WSL) table at the weekend with a 3-0 victory over Everton on Sunday.
The game saw Mayra Ramirez making her home debut for the Blues. She was swift, strong and bristling with armour; a most impressive first start.
Defenders tackle her, but she bats them away as if they're annoying wasps disturbing her picnic.
All the same, Chelsea were fortunate to beat the Toffees by such a convincing scoreline. Despite their relatively low position in the table, Everton proved to be the toughest opponents that Emma Hayes' team had faced this season.
Two soft penalties set the Blues on their way, with ref Emily Heaslip taking such exception to Everton manager Brian Sorensen's protests that she showed him a red card.
Life is seldom dull when you watch Chelsea.
Crystal Palace up next
Both Chelsea's men and Chelsea's women face Crystal Palace this weekend; the women at home in the FA Cup, the men travelling to Selhurst Park in the league.
Fans of the men's team are in a right tizzy. The boos rang out around Stamford Bridge last Sunday following the 4-2 home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the Blues still apparently happier to pass backwards rather than forwards.
With little business of note to report from the transfer window, it seems Chelsea are settling for mid-table until the summer. Although, of course, they do have the League Cup final at the end of the month.
Nico Jackson is back from his travels, and came on as a sub against Wolves, but there are only glimmers of optimism for what most supporters see as a team of misfits.
Yes, they are individually talented misfits. But they just don't gel as a unit.
Wanderers richly deserved their win, and Palace will start as favourites on Saturday, even without the injured Michael Olise.
Don't forget grassroots football
Meanwhile, don't forget to show your support for our local amateur team, Hammersmith FC – a club that has won promotion two seasons running and is really going places.
They next play at home at Club des Sports in Acton Lane on Saturday 17 February at 1.30pm, against West Wickham.
Hammersmith will be out for revenge after losing 2-0 to their Southern Amateur League opponents in the autumn.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
