Madison Perry and Coral Haines helped themselves to hat-tricks as Watford Women cruised to a thumping 7-0 away win at MK Dons.

The Hornets had issues in defence due to injuries and that led to them giving an immediate debut to Lucy Lyon who joined on a dual-sign agreement from Arsenal.

However, if there was a game where thy could handle a few players being out then it was against the Dons, who sit bottom of the National League South table having lost 16 of their 17 games before today, conceding 91 goals in the process.

Watford had already beaten then 8-0 at home earlier in the season and it would have been a huge shock had they not taken three points from the return fixture.

Jessie Gale had an opportunity to put Watford in front in the eighth minute but she shot wide of the target.

But it took barely a minute more for Watford to get ahead as Haines clipped a pass into the box, Flo Fyfe helped it back across goal and Perry had the simple task of tapping into an empty net from a couple of yards.

It was 2-0 after 23 minutes and Perry was again on target, this time pouncing to score from close range after Gemma Davison’s corner wasn’t cleared.

Gale had the ball in the net in the 33rd minute before Haines, who had earlier hit the crossbar, did give Watford a 3-0 half-time lead.

It was trademark stuff from the midfielder, who picked the ball up 25 yards out and then unleashed a shot which flew into the roof of the net.

Five minutes into the second half Haines was fouled in the box, and Perry stepped up to slot home from the spot to complete her hat-trick.

Just after the hour-mark it was 5-0 as substitute Melis Mehmet – who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes - converted from close-range after Flo Fyfe’s looping header had been tipped onto the bar.

The sixth goal arrived four minutes later. It was a second for Haines and another typical strike as she picked the ball up just outside the box and curled a shot into the bottom corner.

With the game comfortably won, Watford made good use of their bench but they still continued to threaten and substitute Lachante Paul headed Davison’s cross just over the bar.

Right at the death Haines completed her hat-trick to make it 7-0.

The victory sees Watford stay in fifth in the table as fourth-placed Oxford United also won, but with their games in hand they could move as high as third.

The Golden Girls are next in action on Sunday March 16, when they host Plymouth Argyle at Vicarage Road, kick-off 2pm.

Watford: Cull; Lyon, Head, Tambula, Davison, Rossiter (Hourigan 72), Haines, Gale (Mehmet 52), Perry (Paul 68), Fyfe (Lazaro 83), Baptiste (Hall 68). Unused subs: Sideras, Chandler