Michelle Agyemang scored two from the bench as Watford FC Women secured a 2-0 win over high-flying Birmingham City in the Barclays Women’s Championship.

The dual-sign Arsenal striker, who entered the action with 20 minutes left to play, fired in the brace within 10 minutes of coming on after the Golden Girls’ back line successfully staved off the Blues’ threat in attack.

Remaining resolute in defence after taking the two-goal lead to clinch a second clean sheet in as many weeks, the Hornets move up to 11th in the Barclays Women’s Championship table, inside the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Carly Johns had the first opportunity of a cagey opening 45, firing over after Harley Bennett lofted a pass in behind the Birmingham backline.

Safia Middleton-Patel was forced into an excellent save at the other end from Claudia Walker’s effort after winning possession high up the pitch.

Birmingham upped the tempo early in the second half, winning a spell of corners. The most dangerous, swung in from the left, was batted away well by Middleton-Patel before the follow-up went wide.

Watford’s opener was created and scored by Agyemang, with the forward tackling Gemma Lawley, driving towards goal and curling past Thomas into the bottom corner.

Nine minutes later the 18-year-old dispatched her second in similar fashion, chasing an Annie Rossiter through ball, beating Neve Herron to it and tucking the shot under Thomas.

The forward came close to rounding off the cameo with her third, taking the visitors by surprise with a strike from range, but the goalkeeper was able to tip the effort wide.

Victory sees the Golden Girls end Blues’ run of eight wins in a row, and move above Lewes in the Championship table for the first time in 2024.