WATFORD Ladies made the trip to Collingham in the FA Tesco Women's Premier League Cup second round to take on a Lincoln side enjoying a bright start to the season in the Premier League Northern Division.
Watford eventually edged a 3-2 scoreline despite the best efforts of the hosts, who acquitted themselves well.
Despite arriving later than intended, and suffering a shortened warm-up, Watford started well and went ahead after 10 minutes or so.
From a second corner in quick succession, Ashlee Hincks drove the ball in - it somehow evaded everybody and was subsequently collected by Lisa Burrows, who played a neat one-two with Emma Beckett before playing a dangerous ball into the danger area where Charlie Nicholson forced it into the net.
Watford continued to threaten and seemed the more likely to score although the Imps' forward line worked hard to unsettle Nicholson and Cori Daniels, who are starting to gel together well now as a central defensive pairing.
The second goal duly arrived courtesy of Hincks - picking the ball up just inside the Imps' half, she ran at the retreating defence before cutting inside and striking an unstoppable shot from 25 yards, and despite the home 'keeper getting a hand to it, the ball was still rising as the net bulged.
Watford were now rampant and nearly went further ahead as Jodian Clarke made a couple of incisive runs which created panic in the home defence - only desperate defending stopped cut-backs reaching the Watford strikers.
However the Imps got themselves a lifeline some five minutes before the break, a needlessly conceded free-kick allowed the home defender to force the ball in from close range.
Watford seemed adversely affected after the break and failed to find the decisive play which had been the hallmark of the first half.
It was the home side who, clearly buoyed by their goal, sought the leveller and some 15 minutes in they found it. Watford lost possession deep in the Imps' half and this caught the Hornets off-guard allowing the home striker to race clear and score under the advancing Marie Hourihan.
The home side again went close when a high lofted cross caused panic at the back post, although the watchful eye and careful hands of Hourihan averted the danger. Watford were not creating much but there was always the feeling that something positive may transpire as the team worked hard to gain the ascendancy.
Hincks suffered a nasty back injury and was replaced by Sarah Wiltshire on the right flank. Wiltshire immediately caused consternation in the home ranks and the opposing full-back was yellow carded for over-zealous efforts to halt one of her surging runs.
It was likely she would be at the heart of any positive development and so it proved - neat interplay between Wiltshire, Beckett and Mikaela Howells allowed Wiltshire to race beyond the home defence before standing up a great cross for Clarke to head home from six yards, with only two minutes left of normal time.
The officials then found some 10 minutes of added time and this allowed Clarke to repay the compliment with a raking cross allowing Wiltshire to slip between the defence and home 'keeper to side-step the ball home with great skill - unfortunately, for reasons known only to the officials, this was chalked off for offside.
The Hornets made hard work of this game having established a two-goal cushion; however they are now in the last eight and hopeful of a kind draw which would allow them to emulate, at least, their achievement of last year in reaching the semi-finals. The side have three home league games on the spin now and must win at least the first two if they are to fulfil their objective of a top-five finish.
WATFORD LADIES RES 0 ARSENAL LADIES RES 0
Second string draw against the Gunners
WITH four straight wins out of four already this season, Arsenal Ladies Reserves were going to provide a real test for Watford, and with the inclusion of England captain Faye White in the Arsenal line up, as she continues her recovery from a knee injury, the girls knew they were in for a tough match.
But the Watford second string are made of sterner stuff now than last season and matched Arsenal blow for blow in the first half an hour. Arsenal enjoyed some spells of possession but with a resolute defence and midfield working in numbers, Arsenal's final ball was always squeezed out and you have to say Lauren Davey wasn't really worked in the Watford goal.
At the opposite end, Jade Ryan nearly put the finish to a flowing move but shot straight at the keeper under a challenge. Jo Rutherford was also causing problems coming in from the left and her clearest opportunity saw her effort too weak to beat the diving keeper.
Watford did need a bit of luck just before half time, the ball broke loose in the box and the Arsenal striker had to hit her volley early to avoid being closed down. However she couldn't get over the top of the ball enough, in the end just striking the crossbar.
As the ball rebounded back into the danger area, Annie Barratt then deflected an Arsenal poked effort onto the post. But it remained goalless at the break.
The second half, as it wore on, became slightly more open, and fortunately, Watford were able to bring on three pairs of fresh legs to try and keep the liveliness up. In the final 20 minutes, chances fell to both sides to win it.
Heather McNeill went close with one effort, and then at the other end a thumping, rising shot from the Arsenal winger was superbly tipped over by Davey.
As time wore on, Arsenal nearly stole it right at the end when their striker beat the Watford back line to a low cross and volleyed firmly at goal from six yards, but Davey was equal to it, palming it away with an instinctive reaction save and then smothering the ball before any rebound chance was given.
The final chance fell to Watford when a quick break away saw Rutherford deliver an in-swinging cross which evaded the Arsenal defence and found Holly Palmer at the far post, but her volley was mistimed and went back across the six yard box instead of towards goal and was cleared.
After six minutes of injury time, the final whistle went with both teams taking away a well-earned point and clean sheet.
There was much to be pleased with from the Watford point of view with every player faultless in terms of effort and attitude, and it's not always you can say that.
It has been a good start to the season from this team and with the Chelsea and Arsenal games out the way for now, there's now a chance to really push on.
Well done to Annie Barratt for an outstanding display at centre back and rightly earning the player of the match award, but mention also to Lauren Davey, who was quite simply brilliant in the Watford goal.
WATFORD: Davey; Hughes, Barratt, Jones, Nagle (Cox); Crumpler (McNeill), Kelly, O'Riordan, Rutherford; Palmer, Ryan (Chambers).
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