Chelsea Ladies 3 Doncaster Rovers Belles 4

Lorrie Fair was given a harsh introduction to the realities of English football as Doncaster Rovers Belles edged a seven-goal thriller at Imber Court on Sunday.

The first American to play in the Premier League was unveiled by Chelsea in a media frenzy last week, but her debut was spoiled by a battling Belles' performance.

The loss sees the Blues slide out of the top half of the table as their season threatens to fizzle out.

However, defeat seemed to be the least likely scenario as the home side started with a bang.

Dunia Susi almost connected with an Ellen White cross shortly after kick-off while former World Cup winner Fair forgot her punishing schedule to throw herself into the fray.

The Californian looked an astute addition with 15 minutes gone when her prefect through-ball sent White away.

Emily Heckler's desperate interception only let in Susi, who had the simple task of beating Belles' keeper Caroline Collie.

The livewire striker almost notched a second minutes later, but in a carbon copy of the first attack of the game, just failed to reach another dangerous White cross.

However, it was the visitors who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck halfway through the first period.

Siobhan Chamberlain did well to tip over a goal-bound free-kick but misjudged the resulting corner from Carla Cantrell which drifted under the bar.

In the goalmouth scramble that followed, Vicky Exley slammed the ball home, but the referee judged Cantrell's corner had already crossed the line.

Worse was to follow for the hosts when Exley waltzed through their defence and Canadian international Liz Hansen slotted home from a tight angle.

The favour was returned shortly before the break when Hansen released Exley and the ex-England star made no mistake to stun the home fans.

Chelsea started the second half with renewed determination and a spell of sustained pressure was finally rewarded when Susi reacted quickest to Katie Owen's half-cleared free-kick to fire the Blues back into the match.

Doncaster looked in deep trouble when Collie was stretchered off with a recurrence of ligament damage and substitute keeper Jessica Horsley was grateful to see Susi head wide.

The Blues' poor finishing proved costly three minutes later as Cantrell stormed down the right and Exley again finished clinically from close range to put the Yorkshire side 4-2 up.

Jess Smith pulled one back on 90 minutes to give Chelsea faint hope but despite six minutes of stoppage time, they were unable to find the vital equaliser.

Chelsea: Chamberlain, Stoney, Perry, Smith, Cooper (Whitter 73), Davies, Fair, Edwards (Owen 60), White, Buet, Susi. Subs not used: Avis, Rafferty, Delves.