Judging by matches so far, Watford’s FA Cup run this season will not be without drama. Sunday’s match against Notts Forest Ladies, played at a Carlton Town FC, was no exception.

Despite adverse pitch conditions, Watford started brightly, pressing Forest at every opportunity and carving out the first chance. However it was the home side who opened the scoring when Catherine Lawson fired a high shot past goalkeeper, Chloe Crook. Watford soon equalised with a penalty shot from Wiltshire but were unable to capitalise on her corner kick seconds before half time, leaving the score at 1-1.

Within minutes of restart, Natalie Clark narrowly missed the goal for Forest but the Hornets fought back with a promising pass into the six yard box by Wynne which Miles narrowly missed diverting into the net. Wynne continued to attack and a further cross into the box found Wiltshire, who wrong footed her marker with a turn and hit a low shot straight past Forest’s keeper, Wallhead, into the net. 1-2.

Forest fought hard to catch up but resolute defending and a battling team performance by Watford kept the home side at bay and the Hornets looked likely for a win. However with 3 minutes left the equaliser came in unfortunate fashion. A cross into the box from Davies, struck Hornets’ Captain, Cori Daniel’s, arm giving Forest a penalty which Lawson tucked home. 2-2 Neither team managed to force a winner in extra time and so the cup tie went into an extra 30 minutes. Five minutes in and a free kick taken by Jemma Connor Iommi put Forest ahead again. Attempts by Miles, Young and Natkiel to find the goal for Watford were all blocked by some excellent Wallhead saves but with just three minutes remaining Wiltshire made the most of a free kick with a superb curl past the wall and into the top corner of the net to complete a hat trick and send the game into a penalty shoot out at 3-3.

Watford managed to stay one ahead in the shoot out until the fifth penalty when Forest scored and also saved, taking the game to a sudden death. Natkiel stepped up and scored leaving Watford’s Crook to make her third save of the shoot out. This she did. So after 135 exhausting minutes and a dramatic shoot out, the Golden Girls are through to the last 16 of the competition.

Manager, Neil Hart said ‘I don’t think this club has ever been this close to reaching the FA cup quarter Finals. Once again we’ve shown tremendous character and strength and every one of the girls has earned this success. We look forward to another tough test against Millwall next week’.