It was a valuable learning experience for a young Watford side, as the Golden Girls lost at home to Barclays FA Women’s Super League outfit Tottenham Hotspur Women in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup.

A busy run of fixtures and an important league game on Sunday meant that there was plenty of rotation in the squad, with younger players given an opportunity. In total, nine players aged 23 or under featured.

This was always going to be a difficult match for the Hornets against higher division opposition. Watford managed to keep it scoreless for almost 40 minutes, but eventually the quality of Spurs’ side showed at The Orbital Fasteners Stadium.

While you would usually associate top-tier teams with making numerous changes in cup games, Clinton Lancaster’s teamsheet actually included more than Tottenham’s did.

Only four of those who started in the draw against Sunderland would retain their place, with some landmark appearances among the other seven.

Ella Waldron made her debut for the Golden Girls, while there were also first starts for Summer Roberts and Ronnell Humes.

As expected, it was the visitors who were having the majority of the ball and looking threatening with it, however Watford were defending well and keeping them at bay.

Mia Smith was busy in goal and was putting in a great performance. She made a particularly fine save to deny Angela Addison one-on-one.

Eight of Spurs’ starting XI had been involved in their previous game against Arsenal, with the line-up against the Hornets containing well over 300 international caps between them.

Despite this, it was still 0-0 as the game approached the end of the first half. With 38 minutes on the clock though, they did eventually find a way through, as Asmita Ale opened the scoring.

The FA WSL side would then turn on the style after that, extending their lead before the break and putting themselves in a comfortable position.

With spaces beginning to open up in the second 45, the visitors managed to exploit this, with Addison and Rosella Ayane being particularly lethal in front of goal.

The youthful Watford side kept battling throughout though, never letting heads drop and putting everything in until the end.

Two more players would be handed their debut for the First Team, with Neave Wilson and Gemma Biggadike both coming on in the second half.

Eventually the full-time whistle went, with Tottenham getting the victory that was very much expected before the game.

For Watford, this match was realistically a free hit. It was also an opportunity to give some of the Development Team a taste of senior action, while also giving some valuable rest to key members of the squad.

All associated with the club will have still wanted to do well in the cup, however there’s no doubting that bigger priorities lay ahead this week, with Bristol City Women visiting on Sunday in the FA Women’s Championship (3pm kick-off).

Tickets for that match are currently on sale and can be purchased in advance by visiting here.