Watford Women paid a late price for not scoring a second goal as league leaders Oxford United preserved their near three-year unbeaten home record with a last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Damon Lathrope’s side had looked set to be the first side to win in the U’s back yard in 1,058 days after Megan Chandler gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead, but their inability to add to that advantage cost them when Leah Burridge headed home deep into second-half injury-time.

“We’re obviously disappointed to concede that late,” Golden Girls boss Lathrope told the club website. “I don’t know what minute it was, but it was late and we scored so early it’s disappointing. But it’s a tough place to come and they’re in that position in the league for a reason.

“I think it speaks volumes why we’re so disappointed to come away from the team that’s top of the league with a point. I don’t think we were at our best today and we still should have won.”

Watford started strongly and were rewarded when Chandler fired home her first goal of the season after a rebound fell to her.

The hosts could have levelled through Carly Johns and Lacy Liggett, keeper Georgie Ferguson doing well to deny the latter.

Gemma Davison had chances to extend Watford’s lead but the best fell to substitute Helen Ward, who hit the post with a long distance effort.

But Watford were made to pay for that lack of a second goal when Andria Georgiou conceded a late free-kick 35 yards out and was sent off for a second yellow card, and Burridge rose highest to head in the resultant free-kick.

“We could have put it to bed,” Lathrope admitted. “Then you’re not coming under pressure in the last few minutes. Every free-kick’s going to go in your box, and you’ve got to defend it.

“We can’t keep having two, three chances to score. We’ve got to stick to the way we play. At 1-0 it’s tempting to protect and go a little bit more safe, but we’re at our best when we move the ball. That allows us to control the game in possession.”

The draw leaves Watford third in the table, four points behind Oxford but with a game in hand ahead of Sunday’s clash with Plymouth Argyle at Grosvenor Vale.