In-form Sheffield United ran out comfortable 4-0 victors over struggling Watford at Gaywood Park on Saturday night.

The Blades controlled the contest from the outset and were ahead just 12 minutes in through star striker Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, who calmly collected a through ball and decisively struck the ball past Georgie Ferguson.

Watford received a blow when Teyah Goldie had to be replaced due to injury in the 34th minute, Ryah Vyse taking her place.

The visitors continued to dominate and it was 2-0 with five minutes of the first half to play courtesy of Rhema Lord-Mears’ stunning effort from distance.

And it was 3-0 before half-time, with Lucy Watson’s effort heavily deflecting off Vyse and ultimately being ruled as an own goal.

Just six minutes into the second half, the Blades had a fourth through Ellie Wilson, who opened her account for the club by heading home Watson’s corner.

United continued to press and created several chances to build a five-goal lead, with Lord-Mears looking particularly dangerous and nearly scoring a second long-range effort only for Ferguson to make a smart stop.

However, four goals ultimately proved more than enough to push them up to seventh in the Championship table and extend their unbeaten league run to six matches, while Watford still sit in 11th place with just one league win all season.

Even after conceding four goals, Golden Girls' captain Helen Ward said she was not disappointed with her team's performance.

“There have been a good few times this season where I’ve come off the pitch disappointed with how we’ve performed, weirdly despite the scoreline, today’s not one of them,” she told the club website. “First half especially I think we were really good and unfortunate to go 1-0 down, let alone two or three. Their keeper has pulled off a really good save at 1-0 or 2-0, I think.

“We started the game so brightly, the determination and effort from the girls was great, but it’s little things that are costing us, and that’s just the experience or lack of in certain parts of the group at the moment.

“It’s something we’ll learn from and despite the scoreline, we’re really positive about certain areas of the game today and we hope to take that forward into the next few.”