Three second-half strikes saw Watford succumb to a 3-0 defeat against Sunderland at Vicarage Road in the Barclays Women’s Championship.

Emily Scarr struck twice, with Liz Ejupi firing first, as the league leaders took control of an otherwise even encounter.

The Golden Girls kept pushing for a goal back and the returning Michelle Agyemang went close, but a fourth consecutive loss leaves Watford six points adrift of safety with three games to go.

An international break puts league action on pause, before another home encounter with Charlton Athletic in two weeks’ time (April 14, 2pm KO).

The high-flying visitors’ best chance of the first half came within the opening five minutes; a swift counter-attack saw Katie Kitching send an effort goalwards, but Beth Howard saved well.

From there, Watford dominated possession, and looked likeliest to score. Drè Georgiou found space 20 yards out but slipped when striking the ball, sending it wide after a patient spell of build-up.

Harley Bennett was withdrawn on the half-hour mark after an awkward landing on her ankle, with Lucía León introduced on the right flank as her replacement.

Abbie Lafayette was instrumental at both ends as the first half drew to a close, heading a well-delivered cross away from danger, and nearly curling a free-kick into the top corner.

Starting the second half in a similar vein to the first, Carly Johns was teed up well by León but had her effort deflected wide.

The visitors capitalised on a mix-up in the box on the hour, with Ejupi finding the target. Sunderland doubled their lead 15 minutes later, after Kitching’s volley rattled the crossbar and fell fortuitously into the path of Scarr, who tapped home.

The Black Cats then added a third with just over ten minutes left. Sophie McLean was penalised for a trip in the box, and Scarr sent Howard the wrong way from 12 yards.

Introduced with 20 minutes to go as part of her recovery from a knee injury suffered with England Under-19s in the last international break, dual-sign forward Michelle Agyemang did well to test Claudia Moan between the sticks, outmuscling a defender and lashing a shot goalward, but a deflection took the sting out of the attempt.

With six points to make up in the remaining three games, Watford face Charlton after the break, before a trip to Blackburn the following week.