Ian Maatsen got the Premier League side off the perfect start after just three minutes, tapping home from close range past Ben Foster.
The Dutchman was teed up brilliantly by new team-mate Nicolas Jackson, who was handed a start at the earliest opportunity following his £32million summer switch from Villarreal.
Having taken an early lead, the Blues settled into the rhythm under little pressure from the League Two outfit, and were able to command possession throughout a one-sided opening 45 minutes.
Cesare Casadei showed Chelsea fans what to expect from the young Italian, gliding through midfield on a number of occasions in an impressive first half performance, with Portugal's Diego Moreira also catching the eye on the right.