Pompey Women suffer defeat to Watford

The Blues twice let a lead slip as they were beaten in the National League South contest.

Daisy McLachlan and Hannah Geer were on target but it was not enough to prevent a fourth straight defeat.

Latest Blues signing Esther Anu went straight into the starting line-up for the visit of the Hornets.

And it was the hosts who broke the deadlock on 16 minutes, with McLachlan finishing off a fine piece of play from Rachel Panting.

But they did not lead for long, with Watford soon getting back on level terms, despite Robyn Levett making a good save to deny Helen Ward.

The all-time Welsh record scorer got hold of the loose ball and crossed for Katie O'Leary to tap home at the far post.

It was proving to be an even encounter following the restart, but the Blues retook the lead on 71 minutes.

Moments after coming off the bench, Geer won the ball back inside the box and managed to fire it home.

But Watford also saw a substitute get on the scoresheet, with Anaisa Harney guiding a header over Levett to level things up again.

It looked like the game was heading for a draw but with just five minutes remaining an angled shot from Harney went in at the near post.

And there was still time for Ward to wrap things up for the visitors with a lofted finish after finding herself one-on-one with Levett.

Pompey: Levett; Kirby, Tonks, Russell, Currie; Perkins (Rowe 57), Bradley, James (Geer 70), Panting (Southgate 82), Anu, McLachlan. Subs not used: Younger, May