A disappointed Renée Hector felt Watford Women “fell a little bit short” in a few areas after watching the Golden Girls suffer their first home defeat of the season as they went down 2-1 to Oxford United.
A first-half brace from Ruby Sealey was enough to clinch the points for the visitors, with Anna Filbey heading home her second of the season to half the deficit with 35 minutes remaining of yesterday's game.
Megan Chandler, Flo Fyfe and Annie Rossiter all had late chances to net an equaliser but they were unable to get the better of former Hornets goalkeeper Beth Howard.
“It’s really disappointing, we’ve been doing well at home,” Watford head coach Hector told the club website after the loss which leaves her side sixth in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division.
“In a few areas we fell a little bit short today, made individual errors that are uncharacteristic, but it comes with the way we play.
“If you don’t get it right you get punished and that’s what happened today.
“We have to take the positives from it, we played well and looked threatening but it didn’t fall for us and we have to take responsibility for that.”
Hector gave a full debut to forward Madison Perry, while Poppy Wilson and Rossiter made their return as second-half substitutes following spells on the sidelines.
“It’s positive and gives me very difficult decisions to make,” said Hector of the Hornets’ squad depth.
“It’s brilliant to have more strength in depth. Maddie caused havoc today, was able to make her full debut and made a good account of herself. Hopefully we can continue to give her minutes and the goals will come.”
Watford Women: O'Sullivan, Filbey, Chandler, Meiwald, McLean, Bowyer (Wilson 56), Georgiou (Paul 90+2), Haines, Davison (Fyfe HT), Perry (Rossiter 70), Gale (Head 56). Subs not used: subs: Goldsmid, Hind
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