A first half Sofia Jakobsson brace and two further strikes compounded Doncaster Rovers Belles to an opening Women’s Super League defeat against Chelsea.
The Swede, enjoying her first season in England, will not have two easier chances tapping home twice after good work from England striker Eni Aluko who later opened her account for Chelsea in her second spell at the club.
Despite the scoreline, the Belles - who were again without Sue Smith due to injury - enjoyed the better spells of possession in the first half - Millie Bright dragging an effort wide in the second minute from a throughball supplied by young starter Ashleigh Mills.
However, Chelsea were strong on the break at the Keepmoat Stadium with Aluko pulling the strings as she slipped in Jakobsson to poke in at the far post with 20 minutes gone.
Jess Sigsworth attemped a lob from a Tori Williams’ ball before the Blues doubled their lead as Jakobsson pounced on a Nicola Hobbs spill in the area.
Williams, playing a more advanced role, had a great chance to reduce the deficit just before half time but lashed her effort wide of Shannon Lynn’s left-hand post.
Former Belles skipper Katie Holtham thought she had netted against her old team-mates but saw her strike deflected over the bar.
Aluko then scored Chelsea’s third in the 62nd minute following a Dunia Susi drive down the right.
Helen Ward later compounded Belles’ misery in the 68th minute with a looping header over Hobbs for the fourth.
Belles never gave up and may feel aggrieved to be denied a penalty after Bright went down in the area.
Sigsworth later forced Lynn to tip a powerful strike over the bar before a goal was disallowed because of a Leandra Little handball in the build-up.
However, despite their endeavours which included Williams’ late effort hitting the upright, Chelsea proved too clinical for the Doncaster outfit - taking all three points back to North London.