By Tony Leighton

In their first Women's Premier League match of the season the reformed Charlton Athletic were hammered 7-0 by leaders Bristol Academy.

Second in the table Blackburn Rovers stayed three points behind Academy with a 4-2 win against Watford, while Everton drew 1-1 at Birmingham.

In the delayed League Cup first round ties, last season's winners, Arsenal, comfortably beat Cardiff City 4-0.

And last season's runners-up, Leeds, were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool.

Women's Premier League

Bristol Academy 7-0 Charlton Athletic

Charlton were on the back foot from the time Stef Curtis put Bristol ahead after just two minutes.

The young and inexperienced Addicks battled well but went further behind when Kerry Bartlett hit the second goal nine minutes before half-time.

Goals by Gwennan Harrries and Nicki Watts in the first four minutes of the second half killed off the Charlton challenge.

Watts and Bartlett collected a second goal apiece and Dani Ackerman also put her name on the scoresheet as Academy strolled to a comfortable victory.

Blackburn Rovers 4-2 Watford

A Stacey Daniel goal two minutes from time wrapped up victory for Blackburn in a hard-fought contest.

Watford striker Helen Lander levelled Karen Burke's opener, but Natalie Preston restored Blackburn's lead in first-half stoppage time.

After Katie Anderton stretched the home side's lead midway through the second half Emma Beckett reduced the arrears - only for Daniel to hit the victory clincher.

Birmingham City 1-1 Everton

A shock looked on the cards when Dani Bird gave Birmingham a deserved lead five minutes into the second half.

But Everton hit back strongly and Blues goalkeeper Sue Wood had to pull off a string of fine saves.

The visitors finally found a way past Wood four minutes into stoppage time, when England midfielder Fara Williams drilled home the equaliser from 25 yards.

Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-1 Chelsea

Canadian striker Liz Hanson gave Belles a 38th-minute lead which might have been extended on several occasions.

England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain made some fine saves though, and then eight minutes from time Helen Whitter popped up with the equaliser.

Women's Premier League Cup

Cardiff City 0-4 Arsenal

England internationals Karen Carney, Katie Chapman, Rachel Yankey and Lianne Sanderson hit the goals in a routine win for the Gunners.

Liverpool 2-0 Leeds United

Liverpool produced a surprise result after early goals by Cheryl Foster and Kelly Smith had put them in the driving seat.

Leeds hit back hard, but England players Amanda Barr and Sue Smith both had shots cleared off the line as the Reds held out for victory.