Chelsea romped to a title-enhancing 8-0 victory over sorry Bristol City in Emma Hayes’ final home game in charge.

Hayes had already conceded the WSL title after her side’s stuttering 4-3 defeat to Liverpool midweek, but that was before Man City were beaten by Arsenal on Sunday, presenting a glimmer of renewed hope.

Closing their goal difference deficit was the Blues’ primary concern, and they went about their work in typically relentless fashion, finding the net inside six minutes when Guro Reiten struck from the penalty spot.

Sjoeke Nusken scrambled home a scrappy second, while Aggie Beever-Jones added a third shortly after the break, beating Fran Bentley with a sweeping strike from Erin Cuthbert’s enterprising through ball.

Chelsea were relentless and Bristol City were powerless to prevent the onslaught. Reiten arrowed her second of the night in the 56th minute, before substitute Catarina Macario played a sumptuous reverse pass into the Norwegian forward to complete a sensational hat-trick.

Niamh Charles made it six. Reiten made it seven. Then it become eight via a Beever-Jones header. The rout was complete, and now Chelsea’s chances of a fifth successive WSL title are reinvigorated. “Game on,” Hayes mouthed to her support staff on the touchline.

Game on indeed.