Belles ring up opening win

Doncaster's Karen Walker in England mode

By women's football correspondent Claire Gray

Doncaster Belles 3-1 Barry Town

Three goals in seven second half minutes gave title hopefuls Doncaster Belles an ideal start to the new campaign as they came from behind to beat Premiership newcomers Barry Town.

It had looked like the Welsh outfit, starting their first ever top flight campaign, could snatch a surprise victory against last season's runners-up having led through an Ayshea Martyn goal up until the 79th minute.

But then the experience of the Belles told.

England's Karen Walker atoned for her earlier penalty miss in levelling the scores.

Then international team-mate Debbie Bampton, making her first league appearance for the Yorkshire club since her move from Charlton Athletic, sent the visitors into the lead just three minutes later.

Melanie Garside wrapped up the points with Doncaster's third with just five minutes left on the clock.

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Arsenal 5-0 Tranmere Rovers

Championship rivals Arsenal got their season off to a flying start with an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Tranmere Rovers.

The League Cup holders had led 1-0 at the interval thanks to an Angela Banks strike and turned up the heat in the second half to put paid to any hopes Tranmere had held of getting back into the game.

Banks doubled her tally on 60 minutes with Catherine Thorpe also firing a brace while, Welsh international Jane Ludlow, a summer season capture from Southampton Saints, completed the rout.

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Liverpool 1-4 Sunderland

Newly-promoted Sunderland started their season with a comfortable 4-1 victory up at Liverpool.

Last year's Northern Division champions, formerly Blyth Spartan Kestrels, took the just seven minutes to fire themselves in front via an exquisite volley from Donna Lanigan.

Sarah Tyson equalised for the home side midway through a fairly even first half before Mel Reay fired home on the half hour to give the visitors the advantage heading into the break.

Second half strikes from Jody Baxter and Emma Bell made sure of all three points for the North Easterners and an ensured an enjoyable introduction to the top flight.

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Southampton 1-1 Millwall

Honours were shared down on the South Coast as Southampton Saints and Millwall Lionesses fought out a 1-1 draw.

Lynn Armstrong was on target for the home side with a looping header from inside the six yard box but Saints were left ruing a host of missed chances, despite having the lion's share of possession, with Una Nwajei twice hitting the post.

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Charlton v Everton

Reigning champions Charlton Athletic were forced to delay their assault on an unprecedented hat-trick of back-to-back titles as their opening day clash against Everton side was postponed.