DOMINANT Blackburn were excellent value for their second win of the season, as they ran out 3-1 winners over Watford in the FA Women’s Championship.

Watford were second-best across the field as they continue to find life tough in the second tier.

Goals from Jade Richards, Natasha Fenton and Annabel Blanchard secured back-to-back home successes at the start of Rovers’ third campaign at this level.

On a beautifully prepared pitch at Bamber Bridge, it was Watford who threatened first when Rosie Kmita flashed a low drive across the face of goal from a tight angle.

Rovers then took control of the game and Farah Crompton went close when her daisy-cutter from just outside the box was confidently saved by Georgie Ferguson.

After the Watford ‘keeper was superb in somehow keeping Saffron Jordan’s close-range effort out, Gemma Donnelly’s Rovers deservedly broke the deadlock in the 27th minute.

An in-swinging corner kick from Ellie Leek wasn’t cleared, and the loose ball fell to centre-back Richards, who drilled home clinically from 15 yards.

Rovers doubled their lead six minutes before the break when midfielder Fenton robbed Georgia Clifford before thumping home a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Watford were in need of a break after the restart, and they almost got it when Kmita glanced a header narrowly wide.

The hosts were comfortable at the back, though, and further forward they threatened more goals late on.

Blanchard headed off target, before the Rovers attacking midfielder made no mistake with 11 minutes left when she rifled home a free-kick opportunity.

Sub Adekite Fatuga-Dada’s late free-kick proved a mere consolation for Watford, who were ultimately well-beaten.

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