By Tony Leighton

Smith's brilliant brace set Arsenal on their way

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.

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.