Watford suffered their first home defeat of the season despite an improved second-half performance, as Billericay Town won 3-2 at Grosvenor Vale.

Late strikes from Annie Rossiter and Gemma Davison reduced the deficit in the FA Women’s National League South clash, but Billericay’s first-half goals by Holly Turner, Beau Parker and Jess King ensured that the Essex-based outfit would take the points on a cold and drizzly Sunday afternoon.

In a slower start to what Watford supporters have been used to seeing at the Vale so far this term, the Golden Girls’ first sight of goal came from an indirect free-kick after goalkeeper Alex Baker handled a teammate’s pass back inside the box. The set-piece was laid off to Davison eight yards out, but the 10 blue shirts on the line ensured the scores would remain level.

With Watford struggling to carve out further clear-cut chances, the visitors took advantage. Turner converted a cross into the box past Georgie Ferguson, putting the Hornets in a unique position in comparison to home games so far this term.

Kicking into gear after the opener, the Hornets began to impose themselves on the game and saw several more opportunities denied by Baker. Rossiter was first to test her from a looping Flo Fyfe cross, but struggled to get behind her header enough to trouble the Blues’ number one.

Grace Garrad then attempted a recreation of her strike against AFC Wimbledon two weeks ago, with her speculative effort saved and cleared for a Watford corner.

Mere moments after Poppy Wilson had come close to an equaliser at one end, Parker doubled Billericay’s tally at the other with a swift counter-attack, giving Damon Lathrope’s side more to do even after an improved spell.

An even 20 minutes looked to have ensured a 2-0 scoreline at the break, before Megan Chandler was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the box during stoppage time. King stepped up and sent Ferguson the wrong way to increase the magnitude of Watford’s task in the second 45.

Substitutions added a spark to Watford’s play after the interval in a half dominated by the feisty midfield battle. One of the changes, Helen Ward, came close to immediately making a difference when she slid in to divert Rossiter’s low delivery, winning a corner.

Rossiter had a shot of her own minutes later to full effect, rushing into space to lash a strike in from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Wilson, from a similar position, attempted to halve the deficit to just one goal, but her effort struck the hand of a Billericay defender. Davison stepped up for the free-kick and slotted her second set-piece goal of the season powerfully to bring Watford to within touching distance of a point.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be in the late knockings of the game as Billericay managed to slow the tempo of the encounter, with the final whistle condemning Watford to their first Grosvenor Vale defeat.

Two more home games await in the next fortnight, as Crawley Wasps visit the Vale in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup before Hashtag United’s first-ever meeting with the Hornets on December 4 in the FAWNL Cup.