In an impressive game Kate Natkiel scored an equally impressive hat trick, bringing her tally to thirteen, in the match against the Charlton LFC Reserve team on Sunday where Leanne Jones made her goal scoring debut.

With the quarter finals of the reserve league cup to play for this was an important match for both teams. Charlton started brightly but their chance to take an early lead was thwarted by Watford’s Captain Leanne McGroarty speedily followed by a good save from Lauren Davey. This was the spur that the Watford Ladies needed and for the rest of the first half passes were fluid and the football entertaining though frustratingly the net eluded them. With four minutes of extra time in the first half, Josie Green, who was superb in midfield, won a 50-50 tackle in the centre circle which released the ball to Megan Wynne who played a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Kate Natkiel, who’s pace was too much for the Charlton defence. Goal number one. Eager to get back on term the Charlton side started the second half by piling on the pressure though never really putting Davey under pressure. Once again the Watford side settled down and the flowing football that the ladies demonstrated in the first half continued. Watford’s second goal came in the sixty first minute from a short corner to McGroarty whose cross shot was superbly headed to the back of the net by Leanne Jones.

From that point forward Watford controlled the game with the Charlton forwards never really threatening the Watford side again. Watford had chance after chance but, agonisingly, no further score until the 80th minute when a superb tackle from Chloe Gunn in her own third, and skilful footwork laid on the second goal from the Natkiel foot. Natkiels hat trick came in the eighty eighth minute as she skilfully curved the ball round the keeper to complete a superb day at the office for Watford Ladies Reserves.

Player of The Match went to Chloe Gunn Manager Sam Perrin was “overwhelmed” with his side’s performance to book their place in the Reserve League Cup Quarter Finals.