Watford Women were given a lesson in taking chances as they were beaten 3-0 by Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium this afternoon.

The Hornets should have had one goal, and possibly three, before the home side took the lead somewhat against the balance of play just before half-time.

One of the Watford opportunities drew a top-class save from home keeper Bethany Howard, but on other occasions the Golden Girls failed to force a save – and when you have the worst defensive record in the division then you cannot afford to pass good openings up.

They matched fifth-placed Saints throughout the first half, and looked comfortable in possession.

However, the home side pulled away in the second half due largely to two goals from striker Sophia Pharoah, the second of which was a magnificent strike.

Watford remain bottom of the Championship and five points behind Reading in 10th, though the Royals now have two games in hand after their scheduled fixture with Birmingham today was oddly postponed due to illness in the Berkshire club’s squad.

There are nine games left for the Hornets, though the fixtures against 11th-placed Lewes (March 17) and Reading (April 28) already look must-win matches.

There was a debut for goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, who has joined on dual registration for the rest of the season from Manchester United.

Harley Bennett returned to the team and wore the captain’s armband in the right wing-back position, while Sophie McLean was also in the side but playing on the right of the back three.

Saints carved out the first chance but Middleton-Patel comfortably pouched Pharoah’s shot from the edge of the box.

It was Watford that settled quickest though and they were only fingertips away from going in front after 10 minutes.

A very clever corner routine ended with Laila Harbert crossing from the right for Lucia Leon to meet the ball at the near post and direct it goalwards with the deftest of back-heel flicks.

Keeper Bethany Howard had a lot of ground to cover but managed to spring away to her right and tip the ball wide.

With the Watford rearguard marshalled so well by the impressive Katie Reid, they were able to push forward and looked the more threatening of the two teams.

Indeed, they had another great opportunity to go ahead after 34 minutes when a strong run from Michelle Agyemang created the opportunity for Poppy Wilson to shift the ball to the right and suddenly McLean was through on the right of the box.

She had a touch to steady herself and then struck a shot that was steered wide of Howards’ dive but curled the wrong side of the upright.

Still the Hornets threatened and when a lofted ball into the home side’s box wasn’t dealt with, Agyemang pounced and poked a shot goalwards that was blocked and finally cleared amid a scramble.

So it came as a surprise and a blow in equal measures when Southampton went ahead after 39 minutes.

Lucia Kendall crossed from the left and the ball ran all the way to Megan Collett at the back of the six-yard box. She looped a shot over Middleton-Patel that almost hung in the wind before dropping just inside the post.

It could have got worse just before the when Katie Wilkinson surged into the Watford box, and steered a path wide of the onrushing Middleton-Patel, but then screwed her shot wide.

The home side started the second half far better than they did the first, and three minutes in Dre Georgiou had to head off the line when Paige Peake steered a corner goalwards.

Watford then had a sniff down the other end when Leon’s cross was deflected to Coral Haines at the back of the box. She pulled it back and Agyemang slid in, but the effort was blocked in the six-yard box.

In the 59th minute, Saints gave themselves some breathing room as Jemma Purfield centred from the left and Pharaoh took it on first time with a sidefoot volley that looped up and dipped under the bar.

Three minutes later the home side put the game to bed with a goal of some quality.

Wilkinson slid an excellent pass through the middle of the Watford defence and Pharoah raced onto it, pursued on both sides by defenders.

She took a quick look up and saw Middleton-Patel was off her line and, without slowing her run, sent a magnificent 25-yard chip over the keeper and into the net.

Watford: Middleton-Patel; Leon (Head 71), Meiwald, McLean, Agyemang (Baptiste 81), Bennett, Georgiou (Johns 60), Harbert, Wilson, Haines (Rossiter 71), Reid. Subs: Goldsmid, Lafayette, Fleming, Palisch.