Smith brace seals Arsenal victory
Kelly Smith hit two spectacular goals as champions Arsenal beat newcomers Blackburn Rovers 3-0 on the opening day of the Women's Premier League season.
In the clash of the teams that finished second and third respectively last season, Everton beat Charlton 2-1, with Jody Handley netting the winner.
In the other games played on the first day, Birmingham City beat Sunderland 2-0 and Chelsea won 5-0 at Fulham.
Cardiff against Doncaster and Bristol Academy versus Leeds were postponed.
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Nationwide Women's Premier League
Blackburn Rovers 0-3 Arsenal
Rovers made the champions work hard in the first half and it was only Smith's superb 30-yard drive, struck on the half-hour, that separated the teams at the interval.
But the Gunners got well on top after the break and would have won the game by a much wider margin - but for some tremendous goalkeeping by Kay Hawke.
However, the keeper could do nothing to keep out another superlative effort by Smith, this time the striker netting from 25 yards in the 66th minute.
And Scotland striker Julie Fleeting wrapped up the scoring with a 10-yard shot in off the post 12 minutes from time.
Charlton 1-2 Everton
England striker Eniola Aluko gave Charlton a 27th-minute lead following good work by debutante Natasha Dowie, niece of the Addicks' Premiership team manager Iain.
But Everton's summer signing from Sunderland, England Under-19 midfielder Jill Scott, levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time.
And Handley, another England striker starting the season in goalscoring form, hit the winner with just seven minutes remaining.
Fulham 0-5 Chelsea
Chelsea became the first table-toppers of the season, with a goal-laden late show against the team from whom they signed four players during the close season.
The visitors led by two goals at the break, Ellen White and Lizzy Jenkins putting their side in control.
And it was three goals in the final 20 minutes, Nicky de la Salle scoring two of them and Nina Downham bagging the other, that completed the rout.
Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland
New strikers Amy McCann and Becky Hall both had good debuts in a comfortable Birmingham victory.
McCann, signed from Everton, created the 21st-minute opener for 16-year-old striker Maz Gauntlett.
And McCann herself scored the clincher from a pin-point 63rd-minute cross by England Under-20 international Hall, signed from Northern Division Wolves.
Arsenal claim easy win at Bristol
Jayne Ludlow and Lianne Sanderson both struck twice as Women's Premier League leaders Arsenal thumped Bristol Academy 6-0 to continue their superb start.
Second-placed Everton were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United.
Birmingham City, who fought relegation last season, moved third with a 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers.
Charlton had to come from behind twice to beat Chelsea 3-2 while elsewhere, Doncaster Rovers Belles beat Sunderland 2-1 and Cardiff City beat Fulham 5-0.
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Nationwide Women's Premier League
Bristol Academy 0-6 Arsenal
There is no stopping the Gunners at the moment, another big win taking their goal difference to an amazing 23-0 after just three matches.
Midfielder Ludlow and striker Sanderson took it in turns scoring in the first half, each player netting twice to give the visitors a four-goal lead at the interval.
Three days after she hit a hat-trick in England's 4-0 win against Holland, Kelly Smith grabbed the fifth goal and Scotland striker Julie Fleeting completed the scoring.
Everton 1-1 Leeds United
A 51st-minute penalty by England midfielder Fara Williams seemed to have set Everton up for a third successive victory.
But the Toffees had goalkeeper Danielle Hill sent off for handling the ball outside her penalty area in the 76th minute.
And four minutes later Leeds equalised through central defender Jess Wright.
Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Birmingham City
Rovers, looking for their first win since promotion from the Northern Division, went ahead through striker Amanda Barr's 23rd-minute goal.
But 15 minutes later striker Becky Hall, a close season signing from Wolves, netted the equaliser with her first goal for Birmingham.
And Hall's strike partner Maz Ballard hit the winner eight minutes from time.
Charlton Athletic 3-2 Chelsea
Striker Natashe Dowie hit two first half equalisers after first Jodian Clarke, then Ellen White had put Chelsea in front.
An unfortunate 55th-minute own goal by Kylie Davies then provided Charlton with their winner.
To make matters worse for the visitors, striker Nicky de la Salle was dismissed in stoppage time after collecting a second yellow card.
Doncaster Rovers Belles 2-1 Sunderland
Carla Cantrell gave the Belles a great start with a goal after just two minutes.
Steph Houghton equalised from a 20th-minute penalty, but 10 minutes into the second half Pauline Hamill bagged Donny's winner direct from a corner.
Fulham 0-5 Cardiff City
Gwennan Harries hit the first three goals as Cardiff, promoted from the Southern Division, handed Fulham their third successive hiding.
Late goals by Ruth Waghorn and Miranda Hall meant that the Cottagers are stuck firmly to the bottom of the table with a miserable minus-24 goal difference.
Aluko nets twice as Charlton win
England striker Eni Aluko was on target twice as Women's Premier League Cup holders Charlton began their trophy defence with a 5-0 win at Brighton.
Bristol Academy, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and Everton also had big wins against lower league opposition.
Sunderland and Fulham lost to regional division sides. The Black Cats went down 2-1 at Lincoln and Fulham lost on penalties after a 4-4 draw at Millwall.
In the only all-National Division clash Leeds United beat Cardiff City 4-0.
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Women's Premier League Cup, round one
Brighton 0-5 Charlton Athletic
It took Charlton until the 52nd minute to score their first goal through Katie Holtham, but 60 seconds later Natasha Dowie doubled the lead and they were on the way to victory.
Jo Potter put the visitors further in front after 71 minutes and, with the Southern Division team tiring, both of Aluko's goals both arrived in the last 12 minutes.
Leeds United 4-0 Cardiff City
Former England winger Karen Burke started and ended the Leeds scoring, each time from the penalty spot.
Between Burke's goals central defender Jess Wright and left winger Sue Smith both struck with excellent finishes.
Lincoln City 2-1 Sunderland
The result of the day came at Northern Division Lincoln, where Jodie Snelson's two early goals proved decisive though Karen Hutchinson pulled one back just after half-time.
Bristol Academy 8-1 AFC Wimbledon
Debutante Kerry Bartlett hit a hat-trick and there were two goals each for Justine Lorton and Kayleigh Greening as Bristol cruised to victory.
Shelley Cox also put her name on the Academy scoresheet, while Abbey Shorter scored the Southern Division team's consolation goal.
Millwall Lionesses 4-4 Fulham a.e.t. Millwall won 3-1 on penalties
In a roller-coaster of a game Fulham led 3-0 at half-time but then had to grab a late equaliser to force extra-time.
An opening goal by Katie McIntyre and a double strike by Danielle Farmer seemed to have wrapped up victory for the Cottagers.
But after the break Claire Williams struck a hat-trick then Harley Bennett put the Southern Division side in front.
Michaela Gooden brought Fulham level in the 87th minute, but after extra time it was Millwall who produced the more accurate penalties.
Blackburn Rovers 6-0 Wolves
Katie Anderton led the way with a hat-trick as Blackburn brushed aside their Northern division visitors.
Anderton's goal salvo came after Sarah McRae had hit the opener. Nicki Twohig and Hannah Bailey added goals in the last half-hour.
Chelsea 5-1 Watford
A hat-trick by former Charlton striker Jodian Clarke was the inspiration for Chelsea's comfortable victory.
Lizzie Edwards and Ellen White were the other Blues' scorers, while Bianca Hedgecock hit a late consolation goal for the Southern Division team.
Everton 4-0 Crystal Palace
An own goal by Laura East after just seven minutes gave Southern Division Palace the worst possible start.
Everton then coasted to victory with further goals from England colleagues Fara Williams, Emily Westwood and Jody Handley.
Birmingham City 2-1 Stockport County
Goals by Maz Ballard and Precious Hamilton were enough for Blues, but they had to battle after Sarah Howden's 59th minute penalty for Northern Division County.
