Chelsea Ladies score six in opening-day victory

New signing Maren Mjelde scored twice as Chelsea Ladies started their Women’s Super League campaign with a thumping 6-0 win over Bristol City Women.

A diving header from Drew Spence put the Blues ahead at their new Kingsmeadow home and Fran Kirby raced through before shooting into the far corner to make it 2-0 at the break.

The Spring Series champions were even more dominant after the interval, with Mjelde taking the ball on the run and finishing neatly after Karen Carney headed the ball into her path from Gemma Davison’s deep cross.

Sweden international midfielder Magdalena Eriksson headed in to make it 4-0 from a corner and Davison teed up Mjelde, who tapped the ball home for a 5-0 lead.

Centre-back Gilly Flaherty completed the scoring with the easiest of shots from almost on the line.