Leanne Bell scored her second goal in as many games as Watford Women took their improving run of form to five points in three matches with a 1-1 draw against Sunderland at Kings Langley.

The Golden Girls had fallen behind to Keira Ramshaw's early header, but Bell struck six minutes into the second half to secure a point.

She said: “We did well to get a point and a goal. It’s gutting not to get the three points. We could have got another goal and the three points at the end, but it gives us something to build on for next week.

“It’s just amazing to get another goal. Second one in two games, which is great. I’m overjoyed, but it was a team performance. It came from Corinne [Henson] and Amber [-Keegan Stobbs]. It was all the work to get the ball to me. It was a team goal.

“You can see it from the team, we’re so tight-knit, we’re so well bonded. We will work to the last second to get that winner. No one will sit back, everyone will fight to the end. I think that shows on the pitch every game."

It was the first time these sides have met in years after their promotions from the National League.

The opener came in the 16th minute when Charlotte Potts crossed into the danger area and Ramshaw’s guided header put the Black Cats ahead.

The Golden Girls had a raft of chances to equalise before the break, with Amber-Keegan Stobbs curling a shot just over, and Emma Beckett unable to keep her header down.

Watford goalkeeper Georgie Ferguson was substituted at half-time and replacement Mia Smith misread the flight of a long ball soon after her introduction, but recovered quickly to prevent the error becoming a goal.

Watford equalised six minutes into the second half. Bell picked up the ball in midfield and her curling strike was deflected, deceiving Allison Cowling to go in at her near post.

Both sides had chances to take the lead. Sunderland’s Ramshaw clipped the crossbar with 20 minutes remaining, unable to get a clean shot away under pressure.

Meanwhile Corinne Henson was unable to find the far post with her ambitious shot ten minutes later.

Smith turned hero in the closing minutes, making a superb stop with her feet to keep Sunderland’s Ramshaw from adding a second header to the scoresheet.

Watford failed to make anything from a stoppage time free-kick, while Sunderland blasted over in a late attempt to grab all three points.