Watford Ladies face a trip to Chelsea Ladies in the fifth round of the FA Women's Cup following their 2-1 victory over Keynsham Town yesterday.

The tie against the Women's Super League 1 side is due to be played on March 22 after a brace from left-back Hollie Wride secured the Golden Girls' passage into the last 16 of the competition with her first goals for the club.

Boss John Salomon admitted he was relieved to get through after acknowledging his side were not at their best.

He told the club website: "It was far from our best performance but we did what was needed to get through and that's the most important thing.

"It's nice to be in the fifth round because we haven't got that far in the competition for a few years. The girls are really pleased about that but we know that we weren't at our best today and there's improvements that need to be made before the season starts in a couple of weeks.

The tie got off to an even opening, with Keynsham having the first shot on target when Watford goalkeeper Shayla Burgess gathered Olivera Marvovic's long-range effort safely.

Salomon's side thought they had taken the lead in the 21st minute when Elena Passare seemed to throw the ball in her own net from a corner but the goal was ruled out from a foul.

Another corner did lead to the hosts taking the lead though, when Dawn Mallett's delivery to the near post was deftly flicked home by Wride.

The left-back's next involvement was more painful, taking a knock to her arm after colliding with the advertising hoardings but she was able to continue.

Another Mallett delivery almost provided a second goal when her free-kick was headed over by Renee Hector from six yards out.

But the Golden Girls did double their lead four minutes before the break when Wride's cross-cum-shot deceived Passare.

The advantage was to be halved before the interval though, as Justine Lorton-Radburn rose highest to head a corner past the helpless Burgess.

Substitute Anneka Nuttall had Watford's first opportunity of the second half as she headed over, but Keynsham continued to press in search of the equaliser and Lorton-Radburn volleyed over from the edge of the penalty area.

The hosts managed to see out the game without any further alarm and Hector went close with a lob before Mallett, who had a number of chances throughout the game, saw a powerful stoppage-time effort pushed behind for a corner.

Watford: S Burgess, M Burgess, Hector (Robe (Gillard 75), Wride, Gunn, Donnelly, Mallett, Farrow, Deacon (Ward-Chambers 46), Adamson (Nuttall 46).