Chelsea maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Women's Super League with victory over Brighton at Kingsmeadow.

Two goals in five minutes from Sjoeke Nusken and Aggie Beever-Jones put the Blues in control, only to have their 2-0 lead cut in half before half-time by Jelena Cankovic.

Sonia Bompastor's side restored their two-goal advantage in the second half through Johanna Rytting Kaneryd but were threatened with dropping points for the first time this season when Kiko Seike netted Brighton's second in the final 20 minutes, only to clinch victory in stoppage time via a Nusken header.

Brighton boss Dario Vidosic has had a superb start to life on the south coast with the Seagulls and within minutes saw his side fire a warning to their table-topping hosts when Nikita Parris forced a save out of Hannah Hampton after good pressing from Cankovic.

Parris again came close in the first half following a misplaced pass from Ashley Lawrence and two wasted chances from the Brighton forward were soon taken advantage of by Chelsea.

Expansive passing out from defence became a theme for both sides, with varying levels of success. Having been able to do so successfully early on, build-up play proved to be Brighton's downfall.

First, it was Cankovic, who was tackled inside her own penalty area by Nusken. Having won the ball back herself, Chelsea's German midfielder saw her shot fractionally cross the line to put Chelsea ahead.

One became two for the Blues within minutes. Beever-Jones, fresh off winning her first start for England, dispossessed Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley inside her own six-yard box before slotting into an empty net.

Brighton pulled a goal back through Cankovic, who converted into an empty net after being teed up by Parris as a result of further high pressing.

Chelsea boss Bompastor made two changes at half-time and the double switch led to a third goal. A superb pass from substitute Catarina Macario found the run of Lucy Bronze, whose controlled effort was kept out by Baggaley but rebounded in off the unsuspecting Kaneryd.

Brighton responded once more through Japan international Seike, stepping up in the absence of ex-Chelsea playmaker Fran Kirby. She pounced to convert the visitors' second after Hampton's clearance hit Brighton substitute Michelle Agyemang.

Seike should have levelled late on when put through on goal by Agyemang, but could not find a way past the England goalkeeper.

Chelsea sealed victory in second-half stoppage time, with Nusken heading in her second of the afternoon at the end of Macario's corner.

Three points for Bompastor's Blues saw them continue their perfect league start to the season, winning all nine matches so far. Brighton have dropped two places in the table from third to fifth.