Watford Ladies’ improving Spring Series continued with a 2-1 win at Oxford United on Sunday, giving them back-to-back victories and lifting them to seventh in the WSL 2 table.

Ellie Noble had given the U’s the lead early on following some slack marking from the Lady Hornets, but they quickly hit back when Charlotte Kerr equalised from close range with 19 minutes on the clock.

Head coach Keith Boanas had stuck with the same 11 which beat Sheffield last time out, and after that early goal they rarely looked back.

Rinsola Babajide headed across goal for Kerr’s first of the afternoon and while Watford then pressed to go ahead, they were restricted to half-chances before the interval.

Within a minute of the restart Lauren Allison missed a fine chance to put the hosts back in front, but from then on Watford took control and only Riva Casley’s block prevented a goalbound volley from Leah Cudone from rifling into the back of the net.

Babajide then saw a drive kept out by goalkeeper Demi Lambourne, but she could do nothing about Kerr’s second a minute later after the Watford player had done well to find space and shoot.

Jess Frampton came close to levelling up for the hosts with a 30-yard drive late on but Jo Fletcher was equal to it.

And in the final minute of stoppage time, Watford nearly put a cherry on their victory cake but Lambourne produced a fine save to keep out Simona Petkova’s shot, which was bound for the top corner.

Boanas said: “I think we should’ve been three or four up in the first half. We started out exactly the way we wanted to, and we were really disappointed with the goal we conceded.

“We were fully in control of the game, and to concede was a real kick in the teeth. But we responded quickly.

“The challenge today was not only to keep a clean sheet but also score more goals.

The head coach also reserved praise for midfielder Kerr, who has now got three goals to her name this season from the Lady Hornets’ first seven games of the season.

He said: “Charlotte is probably our most consistent player; technically she’s probably got a little bit of work to do.

“But when it gets to the level it can be she can be and is a top, top player and in every game she never under performs.”