Sam Kerr on target as Chelsea reach third successive Women's FA Cup Final

The Australian notched her 24th goal of the season to send Chelsea to Wembley for a third successive season

Sam Kerr was the difference-maker once again as Chelsea edged past Aston Villa to reach a third successive Women's FA Cup Final.

It was a cagey first half at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, with Magda Eriksson sliding in to prevent the prolific Rachel Daly from opening the scoring and Zecira Musovic saving from Lucy Staniforth to keep the scores level heading into the break.

Jelena Cankovic rattled the crossbar with a well-taken effort less than a minute into the second half before Alisha Lehmann skimmed the side netting after some excellent work down the right flank.

Villa were made to pay for the spurned opportunity when Guro Reiten picked out Sam Kerr with an inch-perfect delivery into the six-yard box; the Australian nodding home to notch her 24th goal of the campaign and put Chelsea within touching distance of Wembley.

Here, football.london takes a look at the four key talking points from the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

This season hasn't been without its challenges for Chelsea, who have lost several key players to injury since the turn of the year.

But the Blues looked like a side in the ascendancy against Villa and appear to be cresting at the most opportune point in the campaign. Their victory on Sunday afternoon means they are a step closer to achieving a remarkable treble, with Emma Hayes' side currently one point off the summit of the WSL and readying themselves to host Liga F leaders Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League next week.

While there will be plenty of obstacles for Chelsea to overcome if they are to realise all of their ambitions in the coming weeks, their experience and guile should give them the upper hand when they take on Wembley debutants Manchester United in the FA Cup Final next month, with Emma Hayes' side bidding to win the competition for a third successive season.

Norway international Maren Mjelde was brought in to deputise for the Canadian and scarcely put a foot wrong, showing plenty of composure on the ball and picking out some incisive passes to get Chelsea on the front. It was her centre back partner - club captain Magda Eriksson - who really caught the eye, though.

The Swede set the tone for an impressive defensive display with superb sliding challenge to thwart Alisha Lehmann early doors before her impeccably timed block on Rachel Daly denied Villa a certain goal on the brink of half time.

While Chelsea will be keen to see their ranks bolstered by the swift return of Bright and Buchanan, Eriksson and Mjelde proved that the Blues have the strength in depth to maintain a high level of performance heading into a decisive period of the season.

After a dominant start in the West Midlands, Chelsea began to surrender their foothold in the game, with both Rachel Daly and Lucy Staniforth coming close to opening the scoring for Aston Villa.

As the first half wore on, Emma Hayes looked to be growing increasingly frustrated on the touchline. "You're dropping too deep," she yelled at her players amid the waves of Villa pressure.

It certainly seemed like Chelsea had been on the receiving end of a bracing half-time team talk, with the Blues sparking into life after the interval. Jelena Cankovic's effort crashing off the crossbar less than a minute into the second half was a warning shot from Hayes' side, and their felt like an air of inevitability about Sam Kerr's inch-perfect header in the 60th minute.

It was a heart in mouth moment for those of a Chelsea persuasion when, in the 59th minute, Alisha Lehmann rifled an effort into the side netting.

But less than 60 seconds later, Sam Kerr rose to nod the ball into the back of Aston Villa's net. It was far from Kerr's best game in a Chelsea shirt, with the Australian struggling to really impose herself on the contest in the first half.

But in the decisive moment, Kerr was once again the difference for Emma Hayes' side. Earlier this month, she became the first non-European player to reach 50 goals in the Women's Super League, and her winner on Sunday was her 24th goal of the season.

While she will undoubtedly be disappointed to have spurned a couple of late chances to extend Chelsea's advantage, Kerr is hitting form at exactly the right time and will almost certainly have a huge part to play if the Blues are to pick up some silverware in the coming weeks.