Defeat at Blackburn is sixth in a row for Watford Women

Although on many occasions during the campaign the Hornets have played better than the results and their league position have suggested, losing six consecutive games has condemned them to the basement slot after their home defeat last week confirmed relegation.

Indeed, during those six defeats, Watford have failed to score on five occasions.

In a first half of few chances, it was the Golden Girls who looked the side most likely to take the lead.

Carly Johns provided the main attacking outlet, and was denied by Alex Brooks inside the box for the game’s first clear-cut opportunity.

Rovers relied on counter-attacks but didn’t actually make much headway until scoring what turned out to be the winner in first-half stoppage time.

Jade Richards hit a first-time pass on the volley over the Watford defence and Megan Hornby reacted quickly to run in behind before lifting the ball over Safia Middleton-Patel and into the net.

Michelle Agyemang had a golden opportunity to level the scores five minutes into the second half when Poppy Wilson slotted the forward through, but the Arsenal loanee saw Brooks save her shot.

Hornby threatened again with a burst down the left flank only for her pass into the box to go begging.

The Golden Girls increased the tempo and created more openings as the game reached the hour mark.

Agyemang teed up Wilson, and Annie Rossiter followed up the blocked shot with one of her own, but both were cut out by the hosts.

Anne Meiwald then made a rare foray into the final third in search of an equaliser and drove a low shot wide.

Watford continued to chase an equaliser as the game entered its closing stages, with substitute Drè Georgiou pouncing on a loose ball from the edge of the box after Agyemang’s cross was cleared, but her shot was off-target.

Late set pieces failed to deliver an equaliser, and the final whistle called an end to the last away game of the Championship campaign.