Watford Ladies may have ended their Spring Series campaign with defeat, but Keith Boanas says the tournament has been nothing but a success for the club.

The Golden Girls’ long-term future was left in serious doubt when they appeared set to pull out of the WSL earlier this year.

However, Boanas has been able to reshape his squad and Watford are set to take part in WSL 2 when it returns in September.

Watford ended the Spring Series campaign with eight wins from their nine games, but Boanas insists his side have benefitted from the experience.

“With the scenario that led up to it, the fact we were able to get a team together has allowed us a period of time to play without any pressure,” Boanas said.

“There was no relegation, no promotion and we didn’t have to panic. It was more a case of settling everything down and seeing what is possible.

“The side was almost slung together from the ashes and we added one or two players to the ones who decided to stay. They have responded well and it’s given them a boost.”

Sunday’s loss against Millwall came in painful circumstances as Watford conceded a last-gasp Ashlee Hinks strike to go down to a 2-1 defeat.

While the result was far from ideal, Watford showed great spirit to battle back from a goal down to level, despite being reduced to 10 when Danielle Puddefoot saw red.

With the handicap in mind, Boanas was full of praise for his side’s battling effort, even if he felt they let themselves down with the two goals.

“I wasn’t disappointed with the overall performance and haven’t been for most of the games we have played this season,” he said.

“Two moments of madness for the two goals cost us and that is why we lost the game. Their goals were gift wrapped really.

“We had a couple of opportunities which hit the post, so a fair result would have been a draw which made it a bit of a double choker.

“The red card didn’t weaken us and was one of those occasions where we were lifted after making a couple of substitutions.”

Preparations for the season are well underway and perhaps most importantly Watford have agreed to help fund improvements to Gaywood Park’s pitch.

The Golden Girls share the ground with King Langley and Boanas says improving the playing surface is vital if Watford are to push on.

“There is no point being in a job like this at this level if your ambition isn’t to get promoted,” he said.

“Improving the pitch was an absolute necessity. There is no way, with all due respect to the people of Kings Langley, if we weren’t involved in doing that I would have wanted to play there next year.

“It is not right for the image we are trying to portray and not conducive to attracting better players.”