Watford Women’s boss Damon Lathrope hailed an "excellent" second-half display after watching his side seal a 3-1 victory at Cheltenham Town.

Kalani Peart’s first goal for the Golden Girls put the visitors into an early lead in Gloucestershire, but Kylie Nolan got the hosts back on terms in the 16th minute.

However, Watford kicked on after Gemma Davison had forced an own goal in the opening stages of the second half and dominated before Poppy Wilson added a late third.

The victory leaves the Hornets fourth in the FA Women’s National League South Division, eight points behind leaders Portsmouth but with at least two games in hand on all the sides above them.

“It was the polar opposite from the first half to the second half,” head coach Lathrope told the club website. “We weren’t great in the first half and didn’t execute the basics as well as we normally do, but fair play to the group because we completely dominated the second half and the scoreline was a fair reflection.

“We let them know that they weren’t as good as they normally are - they owe it to themselves to perform at the levels they know they can hit.

“They do it really well in training and in games as well. They didn’t need telling, they knew they had more in them.

“It was a flat atmosphere but the second half was excellent, we were on the front foot and really impressive.”

Peart made the breakthrough from a corner after Annie Rossiter’s shot had been blocked behind, but going behind galvanised the hosts and they levelled when Nolan capitalised on a loose pass.

Watford struggled to create clear chances during an out-of-sorts first half, but they started the second period on the front foot and were rewarded when Davison dribbled past three opponents on the left and her driven cross was deflected into the net.

The visitors pushed on from this, with Wilson hitting the woodwork and firing another effort over soon after, while Ellie Head also had a good chance at the back post from an Adekite Fatuga-Dada cross.

Faye Brough came off the bench for her debut and also had a couple of chances, before Watford did net a third in injury time when Wilson netted.

The Golden Girls return to Grosvenor Vale on Sunday when they host MK Dons, having beaten them 5-1 in the quarter-finals of the FAWNL Cup in January.