Watford Women hoping impressive victory is a turning point in season

Renee Hector felt Watford Women got the result they have been threatening after an impressive 5-2 victory over Exeter City at Grosvenor Vale.

Flo Fyfe led the way with a brace in yesterday's FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division success, with Ellie Head, Sophie McLean and Poppy Wilson also getting on the scoresheet.

The win came following the penalty shoot-out triumph at AFC Wimbledon in the Women’s FA Cup and the Golden Girls are hoping they’ve turned a corner in terms of backing up good performances with positive results.

“I feel like the last few performances we deserved the win, but we haven’t quite got over the line,” he coach Hector said.

“We had a very positive performance last week and got through on penalties, and we spoke this week about that being a turning point in terms of a positive result. Now for us to kick on today - and we’ve done that in abundance - and for us to go and score five goals against a team that’s been scoring plenty of goals themselves is brilliant so I’m so happy for the team.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Fyfe, who said: “We’ve been waiting for a performance like this to turn our season around. Scoring goals and looking really comfortable, and I feel like today we did that.

“We showed a lot of character throughout the game. There were times we dropped off and they got on top, especially the way they were playing; the game was very transitional but at the end of the day we battled through it.”

Fyfe’s back-post finish opened the scoring inside the opening ten minutes and although Sophie Gillies equalised, Watford went back in front when Head latched onto a poor touch inside the area.

McLean made it 3-1 minutes later after being set up by Jessie Gale following a fluid team move.

Sarah Stacey reduced the deficit from the penalty spot shortly after the hour mark, but the Golden Girls established daylight again through Fyfe’s second.

Wilson applied the gloss in injury time, setting herself before rifling a powerful effort past the Exeter keeper.

The second half also saw Bianca Baptiste come off the bench following her return to the club.

The 32-year-old had retired from football at the end of last season but told the club website: “It’s one of those things that once you come away from it you realise how much you lost.

“I’m ready to come back and I’m ready to show everyone what I’ve got. I’ve still got a bit left in the tank so I’m just going to give it my all.”

The Golden Girls are back in action on Sunday when leaders Hashtag United visit Grosvenor Vale for a 2pm kick off.

Watford Women: O'Sullivan; Chandler, Filbey, Meiwald; Haines (Bowyer 86), Georgiou (Rossiter 62); McLean, Wilson; Fyfe (Paul 90+3), Head (Davison 66); Gale (Baptiste 78). Subs not used: Goldsmid, Hind.