Watford Women powered their way into the third round of the FA Women’s National League Cup with a 6-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Grosvenor Vale.

There was a debut for development team defender Chloe Tambula, while Melis Mehmet returned to action after a long spell out through injury.

It took Watford only seven minutes to go in front as Dre Georgiou’s through-ball was controlled by Flo Fyfe, who steered it into the path of Sophie McLean to finish confidently.

The lead was doubled 11 minutes later as captain Meg Chandler headed home powerfully from a corner.

Rangers made it 2-1 in the 20th minute when Courtnay Ward-Chambers stole the ball and then calmly finished past Jacqui Goldsmid.

However a quarter of an hour later the Hornets restored their two-goal advantage when Annie Rossiter drove a corner to the edge of the box and Fyfe curled a shot beyond the reach of QPR keeper Lanie Baravik.

Grace Stanley and Anna-Maria Dzyadyk had half chances for Rangers but Watford led 3-1 at the break, and two minutes after the restart Lachante Paul surged towards the visitors’ goal before sending a shot over the bar.

Mehmet ended nearly two years out through an ACL injury when she replaced goalscorer McLean ten minutes into the second half.

With a little more than 20 minutes to go Watford made it 4-1 when Clarabella Hall got in behind the Rangers’ defence and finished well.

In the 78th minute it became 5-1 in real style as Anna Filbey turned on the edge of the box and sent a sweet strike into the bottom corner.

Youngster Lily Whitelock came off the bench and was then denied a first senior goal when her effort was blocked on the line.

In stoppage time, Whitelock played a pivotal role in Watford’s sixth, when she unselfishly squared the ball for Fyfe to convert.

Watford: Goldsmid; Chandler, Hyde, Tambula, McLean (Mehmet 55), Rossiter, Georgiou, Wilson (Hall 61), Paul (Whitelock 74), Perry (Head 61), Fyfe. Subs not used: O’Sullivan, Filbey, Bowyer