There was a positive end to a disappointing season as Watford Women beat Reading 3-2 in front of almost 1,000 fans at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Although relegation from the Championship had already been confirmed for the Hornets, the victory gave another glimpse of the what the team can be capable of when they pull everything together in one performance.

Abbie Lafayette had the first opportunity of the game, forcing Reading keeper Jacqueline Burns into a good save.

They then took the lead in the 16th minute with a well-worked and clinically-finished goal.

Poppy Wilson skipped through the Reading midfield and, despite having the space to shoot, moved the ball left for Carly Johns to plant her shot in the corner for her eighth goal of the season.

It was a half dominated by the Hornets with Annie Rossiter denied when her close-range effort was tipped on the bar before skipper Megan Chandler forced Burns into a save with a 30-yard effort.

And, after failing to take a series of good opportunities, they finally doubled their lead in stoppage time.

Midfielder Dre Georgiou was the scorer, letting fly from the edge of the box with a shot that whistled inside the near post.

The visitors began the second half on the front foot and Safia Middleton-Patel sprung into action to deny Madison Perry from inside the box.

However, the Reading striker did find the net in the 71st minute, heading home a cross to make it 2-1.

The visitors sensed a point might be available to them, but within six minutes the Golden Girls were 3-1 up.

Coral Haines gathered the ball in midfield, a took a touch and then unleashed a ferocious drive that arrowed into the top corner.

The visitors weren’t done, though, and with 10 minutes to go Perry made it 3-2 when she tapped in from close range during a melee in the Watford box.

The Hornets then had to hold out for a mammoth 12 minutes of stoppage time, but they did so to finish with a confidence-boosting win as the season drew to a close.

The versatile Sophie McLean was given the Player of the Season award at the end of a campaign where she has played in multiple positions and been one of the most consistent perfomers.

Watford: Middleton-Patel; Lafayette, Meiwald, McLean, Johns, Rossiter (Leon 78), Agyemang (Baptiste 78), Georgiou (Fleming 89), Chandler, Wilson (Harbert 52), Haines (Pallisch 78). Subs not used: Harrison, Davison, Head, Fyfe.