But champions Manchester City remain level on points at the summit after Carpenter's Australian international teammate Mary Fowler delivered the crucial assist that enabled them to eke out a late 2-1 win at London City Lionesses on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
Carpenter is still nominally a full-back but her ever increasing influence higher up the park as coach Sonia Bompastor adopts more attacking tactics has turned her into a regular goalscoring threat in a right wing-back position.
With Chelsea already two up after 10 minutes at The Valley through Nathalie Bjorn and Melvine Malard, Australian football's player of the year Carpenter popped up in the box just three minutes later to slot home the rebound after a Lauren James pot shot was palmed agreeably into her path by Charlton keeper Anna Koivunen.
Finishing decisively, Carpenter could celebrate her fifth goal in 13 games in all competitions this season, including four in the league, compared to the three she amassed in all 29 games last season.
With Chelsea going on to completely dominate and Malard scoring her second before the break, Charlton took off their experienced Matilda Emily Van Egmond at the break in a tactical bid to try to halt the slaughter.
It partially worked in that the Blues scored only twice more through Aggie Beever-Jones and Giulia Dragoni, but Chelsea were frustrated not to have doubled their tally, such was their dominance.
At London City's humble Bromley ground, the Ballon d'Or won in midweek by their Spanish superstar Alexia Putellas was on view, and the celebratory mood continued when home striker Jana Fernandez levelled in the 72nd minute following Khadija Shaw's league-leading ninth goal of the season for City.
But Fowler, who made an impact in the half-hour after she came off the subs' bench, quickly made a decisive intervention a couple of minutes after the equaliser, putting in a pinpoint cross from the right that Lauren Hemp headed home.
The win left unbeaten City on 22 points, only behind Chelsea on goal difference, with the Lionesses third on 16.
Arsenal's troubles continued, though, with their three Matildas Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley all starters in their frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.
Only an 85th minute equaliser from Alessia Russo stopped them suffering another embarrassing defeat after Chasity Grant had put Villa ahead completely against the run of play in the 25th minute.
Remarkably, Arsenal chalked up 28 attempts on goal - including a combined seven from the Australian trio - to Villa's lone successful effort.
Tottenham Hotspur thumped Birmingham City 4-1 away to move up to fourth while West Ham United beat Liverpool with the same scoreline.
