Carly Johns fired home after just two minutes as Watford FC Women secured a 2-0 win away at Durham, with Coral Haines also on the scoresheet in the Golden Girls’ first league victory since September.

Johns, who returned to the XI to partner Michelle Agyemang in attack, linked up effectively with her strike partner to open the scoring, with Haines doubling the lead in the second half - Agyemang again the provider.

Three points in Damon Lathrope’s 50th game in charge brings the Hornets closer to safety, with a first home game of 2024 against Birmingham City up next in the Barclays Women's Championship (February 4, 2pm KO).

Agyemang played a vital role in the early goal, intercepting a short pass back to Durham goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders, dribbling around the hosts’ stopper and squaring for Johns to tap in.

The on-loan Arsenal attacker was a handful throughout for the Wildcats backline, forcing an excellent save from Saunders after shrugging off her player and firing a powerful shot on goal.

Limiting the hosts to a single shot on target, Safia Middleton-Patel leapt to the rescue with a fingertip stop before Harley Bennett cleared.

Threatening again two minutes after the restart, Agyemang darted in behind and flashed a shot wide.

Johns nearly doubled her personal tally only for the effort to be blocked, with Haines’ follow-up also deflected off-target.

The latter would get her goal eventually, latching onto an aerial ball from Agyemang, recovering from a collision with Saunders and passing into an empty net.

Despite their efforts to reduce the deficit, the hosts were unable to breach a resolute Watford backline and failed to test Middleton-Patel between the sticks, succumbing to their first home defeat in the Barclays Championship since November.

After their second win of the season Lathrope’s side are now three points from safety with eight games to go.