The full-time whistle blew at Leigh Sports Village and Chelsea’s celebrations began with less of a bang, and more of a gentle thud.
Sonia Bompastor turned around to her dugout with a smile on her face and shook the hands of her backroom staff before breakthrough 21-year-old striker and Cobham graduate Aggie Beever-Jones enveloped her in a hug. At this point, the French coach managed to afford herself a grin.
The rest of the team went off to celebrate in front of a small group of their travelling fans who had made the trip to the outskirts of Wigan on the balmy midweek evening, posing in front of a Champions 2024-25 board before they headed into the changing rooms to continue the after-party.