The Golden Girls came up short at the last hurdle in the FA WNL Cup, losing out 3-2 to Nottingham Forest after extra–time in the final at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.

A Gemma Davison opener handed the Hornets an early lead before Charlotte Greengrass levelled the affair, and then Forest’s Yasmin Mosby found the target 10 minutes into the second half.

Poppy Wilson headed in an equaliser on 65 minutes, and it took nearly a further hour to settle the game, with Gianna Mitchell claiming the decisive touch on Forest’s winning goal deep in extra-time.

Damon Lathrope’s side need to bounce back quickly, with a top-of-the-table clash against Oxford United to come on Thursday at Vicarage Road back in the league (April 27, 7.45pm KO).

Watford continued their trend of quick starts in Staffordshire, going immediately close through Davison and striker Faye Brough, who forced Emily Batty into parrying for a corner.

Former England international Davison swung the corner in on her right foot and forced Batty into a compromised position, unable to keep it out of the net.

Brough had another golden opportunity to etch her name onto the scoresheet, but couldn’t turn Davison’s cross goalward from inside the six-yard box.

Forest immediately hit the Hornets on the break via Mia Moncaster, who had an initial shot palmed away by Jacqui Goldsmid before seeing her follow-up headed onto the upright by Megan Chandler.

The northern-division outfit began to take control from there, pressing relentlessly through Sophie Domingo, Greengrass and Mosby. The former rattled the post, winning the ball back after Ellie Head made a tackle inside the box, before Greengrass equalised from close range.

Under the cosh early in the second 45, Goldsmid made saves to deny Moncaster and Greengrass, but Forest took advantage of a dominant spell. Becky Anderson tried her luck from distance, forcing Goldsmid into a fingertip save, but the ball fell favourably for Mosby to slide home as the Watford goalkeeper scrambled to reclaim possession.

It took 13 minutes for the Hornets to respond with Davison again playing a vital role, whipping in a free-kick that caught the wind, rattled the crossbar and dropped on the goal line. Wilson darted in to head goalward, wheeling away in celebration with her teammates and a sea of yellow flags in the crowd.

Wilson was brought down between two red shirts soon after her goal, but penalty appeals were waved away by the referee. At the other end, the playmaker made a vital block at the back post, as a header was destined for Goldsmid’s goal.

Settled in extra-time after an even 90 minutes saw neither team take full advantage of their chances, substitute Helen Ward had an effort saved, with Davison then going close with Ward the provider, delivering an excellent through ball.

Anderson played a dangerous through ball across the Hornets defence and Goldsmid committed, but a decisive touch from Mitchell diverted the ball in, proving Alli Palisch’s attempt at a goal-line clearance futile.

The quest for silverware goes on for Lathrope’s Golden Girls, who could meet the northern-tier leaders in a play-off final on Saturday May 20 should their league season end successfully. They next face Oxford United, who currently sit atop the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division, in a crucial clash at The Vic on Thursday.