Watford Ladies sit second in the National League South table after delivering another late show saw them come from behind to win their fourth game on the spin with a 4-2 triumph at Portsmouth Women yesterday.

The Golden Girls were up against it with 15 minutes to play after Daisy McLachlan and Hannah Geer had scored either side of Katie O’Leary’s equaliser.

But Armand Kavaja’s side once again showed their character as Anaisa Harney struck twice after coming off the bench before Helen Ward added to her tally of late goals to leave the Hornets one point behind leaders Coventry United.

After Ward and McLachlan had both seen early shots saved, Watford came close to taking the lead when Danielle Scanlon hit the woodwork from 25 yards.

But it was the home side who made the breakthrough after 16 minutes when Rachel Panting’s back heel set up McLachlan to beat Weronika Baranowska.

It didn’t take the Hornets long to get back on terms though, as after Ward had been denied by Pompey goalkeeper Robyn Levett she got to the loose ball and set up O’Leary to volley home.

Laura Baker, who was making her first league start of the season for the visitors, had an effort ruled out for offside, while Panting hit the side netting at the other end as both sides pushed for a second goal.

The visitors had two very good opportunities to do this at the end of the first half, with Ward unable to capitalise from a one-on-one before the home side did superbly to avert the danger when Scanlon was in plenty of space in the box.

Having sent an overhead kick narrowly wide, O’Leary forced Levett into a good stop on the hour before Baranowska did likewise when she was unable to deal with a free-kick at the first time of asking.

But there was little the Hornets keeper could do to stop the hosts from going back in front with just under 20 minutes remaining when Geer turned in the six-yard box and fired home.

Kavaja responded by sending on Harney in place of O’Leary and her impact was to be dramatic.

The substitute was to level the scores when she headed over Levett in the 79th minute, before putting the Golden Girls in the driving seat with five minutes to go by netting at the near post.

It was left to skipper Ward to complete the impressive turnaround as she calmly lobbed Levett to net her sixth of the campaign.

Watford will seek a fifth successive victory when they face Gillingham at Kings Langley on Sunday (kick-off 2pm).

Watford Ladies: Baranowska, Hallsworth, Hill, O’Halloran, Peck, Scanlon, Akerman (Carid 58), Bell, Baker, O’Leary (Harney 72), Ward. Subs not used: Martin, Huggins, Afiya Johnson.