By Philip O'Connor

BRISTOL, England, March 15 (Reuters) - Chelsea forward Lauren James capped off a superb individual display with the opening goal as her side beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Women's League Cup Final on Sunday, with her England team-mate Aggie Beever-Jones grabbing the second goal.

James, who joined Chelsea from United in July 2021, was brilliant throughout, and she showed her usual combination of poise and predatory instincts to net the opener in the 19th minute.

The 24-year-old pounced on a terrible error by United's Dominique Janssen, snapping up the Dutch defender's under-hit back-pass from a throw-in before driving into the box and rifling past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

James lit up the game in the first half, her willingness to pass, shoot and dribble with either foot causing no end of problems for the United defence.

That said, United had plenty of chances of their own in the opening 45 minutes but their finishing lacked the precision needed to beat Hannah Hampton and their second-half attempt at a comeback lacked energy as they struggled to exert pressure on the Chelsea goal.

Beever-Jones put the game beyond doubt in the 77th minute, toe-poking the ball home after good work by Swedish winger Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd to set her up, and Chelsea held on comfortably to win the trophy for the fourth time in their history.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor)

((philip.oconnor@thomsonreuters.com))