Ambitious Watford Ladies have signalled their intention to progress up the leagues by contracting players for the first time.

The first to put pen to paper was goalkeeper Tia Ginn, who has represented the club for many years at youth level and has continued to impress as a senior player.

Sakina Dhirani, Natalie Cloy and Hayley Carr have also signed deals, followed by ten more players during this week.

First team manager Jordan Williams said “These two-year contracts are the latest development in the club’s evolution. It shows our ambition and determination to progress up the football pyramid.”

The players marked this development with a fine 3-2 league win at Dulwich Hamlet. First-half goals from Rebecca Lovelace and Sophia Amanor set Watford on their way, with Iva Hrisimova scoring the winner after the break.

There is another history-making moment on the horizon for the first team who will get the opportunity to play in a Premier League ground on November 13 when they face Brentford Women at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Meanwhile there were impressive showings for the club’s younger teams in the Junior Premier League.

The Under-15s secured a hard fought 3-1 victory away to Northampton.

The visitors started brightly when Cassidy Davies latched onto a long pass from Marcia Itani and fired into the top corner.

Northampton equalised before Chloe Bright found the net on the stroke of half time to put Watford back in front.

In the second half Watford held firm defensively and got their third following a beautiful pass by Amy Moynihan to play in Alexia Lopes. She danced through the defence and after her effort was cleared off the line, Ella Weaver converted the follow-up for an impressive win.

The Under-14 Warriors ran out 2-0 winners at home to Nottingham Forest.

Watford were well organised and composed on the ball and in the sixth minute Tabitha Richardson pounced on a defensive error to put the hosts in front.

Watford continued to press with an energetic midfield and a disciplined defence, and their reward came in the second half when Tierney O’Gorman beat the keeper to seal a well-deserved victory.