Meg Hornby’s first-half strike saw Watford FC Women fall to a 1-0 defeat against Blackburn Rovers in their final away game of the season.

Hornby struck two minutes into stoppage time against the run of play, with the majority of chances coming in the second half.

The result confirms Watford’s status at the foot of the Barclays Women’s Championship, with one game to go against Reading at Vicarage Road next Sunday (April 28, 2pm KO).

In a first half of few chances, Watford looked the side most likely to take the lead. But for a mixed opening 10 minutes the Hornets controlled possession, aiming to break down the Blackburn backline with quick passing play.

Carly Johns provided the main attacking outlet, and was denied by Alex Brooks inside the box for the game’s first clear-cut opportunity.

Rovers looked to hit on the counter-attack but didn’t make their way into the box until their stoppage-time opener. Jade Richards hit a first-time pass on the volley over the Watford defence and Hornby reacted quickly to run in behind, lofting her shot over Safia Middleton-Patel and in.

Michelle Agyemang had a golden opportunity to level the scores five minutes into the second half when Poppy Wilson slotted the forward through, but the dual-sign Arsenal striker could only warm Brooks’ gloves with her shot.

Goalscorer Hornby threatened again with an explosive run down the left flank only for her pass into the box to go begging.

The Golden Girls increased the tempo and fashioned more chances as the game reached the hour mark. Agyemang teed up Wilson, and Rossiter followed up the blocked shot with one of her own, but both were cut out by the hosts.

Anne Meiwald then made a rare foray into the attacking third in search of an equaliser, drilling a low shot wide.

Piling on the pressure as the game entered its closing stages, substitute Drè Georgiou pounced on a loose ball from the edge of the box after Agyemang’s cross was cleared, but the shot was off-target.

Late corners and free-kicks failed to bear fruit, and the full-time whistle called an end to the final away game of the Championship campaign.