Just before half-time, the cheers from the travelling Chelsea fans took a conspicuous turn, moving across the sliding scale from confident battle cry to unshackled revelry.
Now, they were wolfish, elatedly so. So yes, they implored left-back Niamh Charles to indulge in a shot from range and jeered with as much jest feasible as Reading pushed forward in hunt of a goal that simply was not going to come.
Few could blame them, however technically premature their celebrations might have been. The sun was shining and so were Chelsea's stars, Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten firing the reigning champions into a 2-0 lead before the half, an eventual 3-0 victory courtesy once more of Kerr.
Chelsea are WSL champions for a fourth successive season following their 2-0 victory over Reading on Saturday at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The victory marks the Blues' third consecutive league and FA Cup double, a sixth WSL title, augmenting the club's major trophy tally under Hayes' relentless 11-year tenure to 14.
For Reading, the result is far bleaker, an official sentencing to the Championship and an end to an eight-season stay in the top-flight.
Hayes entrusted the big occasion to the starting XI that gleefully dismantled Arsenal at Kingsmeadow with all the fanfare of a victory parade. And Chelsea were quick to try to snatch the match, immediately springing early salvos to test the hosts.
Reading vowed to not end their eight-season top-flight tenure without a fight, and so it seemed as they attempted to force the opening stages into a frenetic blur more fitting for Reading’s mission of a rousing upset.
Such a resistance against the serial champions ultimately proved ephemeral and as Erin Cuthbert and Sophie Ingle wrested control of midfield, soon Chelsea were stroking Reading to their rhythm.
A gilt-edge chance for Kerr before the quarter-hour mark was shockingly spurned, with the Australian blazing her effort over the bar from inside the six-yard box.
Both Cuthbert and Magda Eriksson came close as Reading were forced further into their own half, only for Kerr to nod home from Guro Reiten's cross 18 minutes in to fire the travelling Chelsea support into their first paroxysm.
Reading offered something in the way of a response two minutes later, very nearly cutting the title celebrations short through Justine Vanhaevermaet's looping header. But the opportunity came and gone and soon the match distilled into an exercise in dominance for the visitors as they annexed more of Reading's half.
Lauren James was a constant nuisance as she drove forward with the ball in hunt for Chelsea's second and chances were shared around the squad.
And three minutes from half-time, Reiten was coolly slipping in that coveted second goal after pouncing on a monstrous defensive error from Reading's Easther Mayi Kith.
Was it premature to celebrate a fourth title? The Chelsea faithful didn't feel so, their confidence translated into elated cheers thick enough to drown out the stadium.
Reading began the second-half brighter, though it was all relative as the visitors returned to their earlier programming of second-gear domination. Slick passing and quick movements kept Reading pinned back, bereft of ideas.
And three minutes from time, Kerr underlined Chelsea's dominant second-half with a third and final goal, picking up her own rebound after her original effort pinged off the post and back into her path.
Below are the ratings from Chelsea's 3-0 victory.
Ann-Katrin Berger 7
Probably could've gone to sit with the Chelsea support for most of the first half with so little to do. Reading very nearly tested Berger two minutes after Kerr's opener, but the header looped over benignly.
Slightly more to do in the second half as Reading showed a little more about them. Very nearly cast a cruising victory into a nightmarish finish as she dawdled on the ball and Reading looked to punish.
Eve Perisset 8
A constant threat from out wide with her crosses. Very nearly set up Chelsea's opener as she combined cleverly with Pernille Harder before whipping in a cross to an unmarked Sam Kerr, who inexplicably blazes the chance over the bar.
Maren Mjelde 8
Had to get a handle on Reading's early salvos as they looked to unsettle the Blues. Alongside Eriksson, looked calm and dealt with Reading's increasingly growing pressure coolly. Didn't put a foot wrong.
Magda Eriksson 9
A final match as captain and a typifying one at that. A classy performance and always on hand to douse even the smallest of concerns. Kept composure when Reading looked to push the game into frenetic blurs.
Lifting her 12th trophy with the Blues, a fitting finale for a player that will deeply missed and difficult to replace. A rousing ovation as she was subbed off with minutes to go.
Niamh Charles 8
Was forced into early defending to thwart Deanne Rose's pace but did so without much fuss. When able to get forward and combine with Reiten out wide, showing what's made her so valuable to Chelsea this season. Positive and vibrant.
Erin Cuthbert 9
Is there a better midfield duo than Cuthbert and Ingle? It's difficult to argue against the sentiment. Once again, Cuthbert was her usual force defensively, putting in crunching tackles when required and scotching the host's attacks before they became a point of worry. Did well to win headers against the towering Vanhaevermaet.
Had some early chances from range that could've been converted. Moloney did well to deny an opener as Cuthbert's strike was tipped onto the bar. Positive on the ball as she constantly helped break her side into attack.
Sophie Ingle 8
Another assured performance from the Welsh international. Alongside Cuthbert, the pair controlled the centre of the park to their liking and kept a potentially frantic match from slipping out of control.
Carried the ball well and her through balls to cut Reading's defence were sharp. Another controlled and disciplined showing in front of the back four.
Lauren James 8
Early signs of combination play with Kerr, positive out on the wing and coaxing out Reading out of their defensive shape.
Her ball carrying skills were second to none and the Lioness constantly looked to drive into the penalty area to the despair of Reading's defence.
In the second half particularly her crosses became a specific threat Reading did well to handle.
Subbed at 70 minutes.
Pernille Harder 8
Sharp and vibrant from the off. It was her crucial composure that allowed Chelsea's attack to flow through her, taking in passes to the feet before ushering them out wide or slipping in Kerr behind the Reading defence.
Constantly looking to get in behind Reading's defence and her runs were clever.
A final match for the Dane in the Chelsea shirt. Subbed at 70 minutes to a standing ovation.
Guro Reiten 9
Beautiful bit of play (unsurprisingly) for Chelsea's opener, as she dribbles around Reading's defence on the left, makes herself an inch of space and fires a cross into the box for Kerr to head home.
An assist would not be enough for Reiten, whose campaign has cut the convincing archetype for understated star of the season. Three minutes from time, Reiten would latch onto a ball over the top that Easther Mayi Kith failed to deal with and slipping in Chelsea's second.
Sam Kerr 9
Kerr scoring on a big occasion for Chelsea? Football does not play with guarantees but this is arguably the closest it will ever get to claiming one. Having spurned an earlier, far easier opportunity minutes earlier, Kerr made no mistake as she met Reiten's cross and headed downward beyond Grace Moloney.
Found herself at the centre of more chances that should've been put away but she made good as she fired in Chelsea's third three minutes from time, picking up her own rebound after smashing the post.
