Women's Super League: Blues character pleases Rachel Williams

Birmingham City Ladies striker Rachel Williams was delighted with the response of her team after they bounced back from a 6-0 FA Cup thrashing at Arsenal to draw 1-1 with Chelsea.

Williams equalised for last season's runners-up on Sunday in the first round of the Women's Super League season.

She told BBC Sport the performance "showed everyone was still hurting".

"We should have won, but we'll take the point. It's the first game and we can only go up from Tuesday," she added.

Birmingham, who saw their defence of the Women's FA Cup ended in the last eight by Arsenal in mid-week, have finished as runners-up to the Gunners in both editions of the Women's Super League to date.

New-look Chelsea, who finished sixth in 2012, have added six internationals to their squad this season, including Brazil international Ester Dos Santos and England's Eniola Aluko from Birmingham.

In contrast, Aluko's former club signed youngsters Kirsty Linnett and Melissa Lawley from Arsenal and Bristol respectively, and also added players from lower league clubs.

Despite the increased depth in the league, Williams says the season can only get better from here for Birmingham.

"When it starts getting to the games where we have to get three points, I think that's the point where we'll start being a bit harder on ourselves," the 25-year-old said.

Sweden international Sofia Jakobsson netted for the home side on her debut, before Williams scored an early goal of the season contender with a strike from 25 yards.

Known more for her acute finishing inside the penalty area, Williams is pleased to have demonstrated to her team-mates that she is capable of scoring spectacular goals as well.

"I've hit a couple in training and the girls have said 'they don't count here'," Williams said. "So after scoring one in a game, I was able to turn around and say, 'I can do it'.

"But for me I'd rather score the tap-ins to win us the game than score the wonder goals."

The BBC is showing the FAWSL for the first time this season, with four highlights programmes, plus there will also be live coverage of Euro 2013 this summer. The BBC Sport website will also also keep you up to date with all the latest news and scores.