Middlesbrough stand between Watford Ladies and a place in the FAWNL Plate final after the Golden Girls swept aside Chichester City 4-0 to march into the last four.

The Hornets took control from the outset and were 2-0 up inside the first ten minutes thanks to goals from Emma Beckett and Helen Ward, had added a third midway through the first half through Megan Chandler and Danielle Scanlon completed the scoring after the break.

The bad weather had caused the quarter-final to be postponed three times, but Clinton Lancaster’s side wasted no time getting into their attacking stride.

This was rewarded in the ninth minute when Beckett pounced on a loose ball from a corner to make the breakthrough, and within a minute captain Ward had calmly scored her 12th of the season when she rounded goalkeeper Isobelle Foster after being played through.

The Hornets were in control but there was to be no let up and they effectively put the tie beyond their hosts in superb fashion after 25 minutes when Chandler let fly from distance to net a stunning first goal for the club.

Although their semi-final place was all but assured, the visitors continued their positive approach after the break and it took a fine double save from Foster to prevent Leanne Bell from scoring on her return to the side after a lengthy absence.

However, the City keeper was to be beaten one more time when a Scanlon goal was deflected past her.

The scorer went close to doubling her tally but Watford had long since tied up a place in the semi-final against a Boro side currently in mid-table in the Northern Premier Division.

The semi-final will be played this Sunday, with the winners facing either Plymouth Argyle or West Bromwich Albion.

Watford Ladies: Wilson, Hill, Beckett, Richards, Bell (Huggins 65), Scanlon, Chandler, Vyse, Harney, Ward (O’Leary 52), Fatuga-Dada (Carid 46).