Watford smash Chichester's plate hopes

Watford started brightly and made an early statement of intent when Leanne Bell surged down the right and delivered a telling cross into the danger zone.

For the youthful green and whites Gemma Staple had a glorious chance to open her account when put in on goal by Rebecca Bell. Her shot was easy meat for keeper Nina Wilson.

Just before the quarter hour the Hornets went ahead in fortuitous fashion. Chichester made a hash of trying to clear a corner and it fell to Emma Beckett whose strike bobbled past the outstretched hand of keeper Izzy Forster.

Chichester hadn’t had time to regroup when Helen Ward burst through and slotted in having eased past Forster.

Lucy Cook covered a lot of ground and any time Bell got on the ball she was flying down the wing but no final product could be manufactured by Chichester.

On the half hour, Megan Chandler was afforded too much time to set her sights from long distance and produced a wonderful shot that flew over Forster into the net.

Sophie Phelps came on after the break to bolster the defence and Chichester were seeing more of the ball and taking the game to Watford.

But throwing a little caution to the wind meant Watford had further chances and they eventually took one just after the hour when Danielle Scanlon let fly with a cross-shot that was too good for Forster and nestled neatly in the bottom corner.

Gemma Simmonds and Priscilla Martins came on for Chichester and the side fought on and made life testing for the Hornets.

Chi Ladies: Forster, Cook, Burke, Fox, Howden, Bell, Staple, White, Laczkovski, Collighan, Lake. Subs: Phelps, Rowlands, Simmonds, Martins, Wild.