Watford were defeated 4-0 by a strong Charlton Athletic side at Vicarage Road on Saturday (Oct 2).

The Addicks started the game quickly, with a couple of goals in the opening 10 minutes. Anna Filbey opened the scoring and Elise Hughes then doubled the advantage.

Hughes would add a couple more to her tally in the second half, grabbing her second in the 54th minute and then completing her hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Golden Girls Head Coach Clinton Lancaster opted to name an unchanged side from the team that took on Sheffield United the previous weekend.

There were a couple of new faces in the matchday squad for this season though, with Ronnell Humes and Aaliyah Charles being called up from the Development Team.

Charlton started the game strongly and took the lead after just three minutes. A corner found its way through to Filbey and she made no mistake with the finish at the back post.

That advantage would become two shortly after. Good work from Megan Wynne down the right set the chance up, with Hughes finishing the move off with a looping header.

The Hornets responded to the early setbacks and started to look more threatening. Helen Ward drove into space and forced Eartha Cumings into a save at her near post. From the resulting corner, Chiara Meola volleyed over.

Emma Follis was causing Watford problems and she twice cut inside onto her right foot before putting strikes narrowly over.

Midway through the half, the Golden Girls went the closest they had come to pulling one back. Amber-Keegan Stobbs did brilliantly in the build-up, finding Ward, who was superbly denied by Cumings who made a fine stop low down.

Flo Fyfe then had a free-kick from 25 yards go just over. Watford were putting dangerous balls into the box, but Cumings’ handling was faultless, allowing no further opportunities.

Corinne Henson was introduced for the second half and she almost made an immediate impact, sending a teasing ball in that was just beyond the reach of Ward.

Watford’s chances of getting back into the game were reduced with a slightly fortunate third Charlton goal. Georgie Ferguson came up with a fine save with her feet to stop Lois Roche, but the rebound hit Hughes and went into the goal.

Any doubts about the final outcome of the match had pretty much vanished by the hour mark. Charlton were awarded a penalty, which Hughes stepped up to take. She calmly converted to make it 4-0 and seal her hat-trick.

There was a Watford debut for Humes who was introduced with little over 20 minutes to go. She looked lively in her appearance and tested Cumings with a strike from the edge of the area that was well saved.

At the other end Ferguson had to be alert, making a fine reaction stop to prevent her teammate from putting into her own net.

Watford would be buoyed on by fantastic home support, but the Hornets couldn’t find a way to get late consolation, with full-time outfit Charlton winning 4-0 and showing the qualities that will see them challenging at the top of the division.

For Lancaster’s side, it’ll now be about responding and looking to put things right away at London City Lionesses next Sunday (Oct 10).