Watford Ladies were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Coventry United on Sunday, as the visitors claimed their 14th consecutive league win.

A Marie Gauntlett brace either side of a Natasha Merritt goal did the damage, but the goals did not tell the full story as the Golden Girls gave a good account of themselves.

Weronika Baranowska returned to the starting lineup after missing last week's game against Oxford, while Andie Dickens was given a place in the first-team squad after hitting double figures for the U23s.

Gauntlett took just five minutes to score her first after a big mistake at the back allowed her to pounce upon a loose pass and score in an empty net.

The Hornets set about trying to find an equaliser and almost got one straight away through Adekite Fatuga-Dada, but her strike from range came back out off the crossbar following a clever set piece manoeuvre.

Watford kept the pressure on Coventry and both Jennifer Kikomenko and Leanne Bell went close, but neither were able to find a finish.

Despite their attacking threat, Watford would go in at half-time 2-0 down after Helen Dermody's shot was kept out by Baranowska only for Merritt to finish on the rebound.

More near misses added further frustration for the Hornets in the second-half as Andrea Carid forced a save from Sue Wood, while Helen Ward went close with two separate efforts.

The game was finally put beyond the Golden Girls when Gauntlett scored her second with a header from a corner and the game finished 3-0.