Watford Ladies thump Sporting Benfica as junior sides also triumph

Controlling the game with crisp, fluid passing, the Watford side created chances from the very start. The pressure soon paid off when a Lily Hall cross from the left was flicked over the keeper by Sophia Amanor. Hall provided another assist when she played a cross-field ball to Rebecca Lovelace, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net despite the attention of three defenders.

The home side continued to snuff out sporadic Benfica attacks and extended their lead on 35 minutes. Natalie Cloy played a defence-splitting pass for Lovelace who rounded the keeper and finished impressively into the far corner as the defender tried to get back onto the line.

Lily Hall scored once and claimed two assists in her side's victory. (Image: Watford Ladies)

The visitors came out fighting in the second half, but Watford’s defence held firm with standout performances from player of the match Emie Ramsell and goalkeeper Tia Ginn, determined to keep a clean sheet.

At the other end frustration started to mount as the home side failed to capitalise on a string of corners, but eventually a delivery from Iva Hrisimova fell to Hall who powered a shot home to make it 4-0.

Two more Watford goals followed, either side of Benfica having a player sent off for a second yellow card.

Both were created by Lovelace’s crosses into the box, and both were finished by Lola Meyer, scoring her first goals for the club.

In the Junior Premier League Cup competitions, the Ladies Warriors teams recorded a series of impressive wins.

The three standout results saw the Under-13s beat London Football Talent Centre 3-2 to book a place in the semi-finals.

The Under-14s won through on penalties against Lewes and the Under-15s were 1-0 victors away at Derby, both teams progressing to the quarter-finals of their respective competitions.