Watford Women joined their male counterparts in getting knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round following a 5-1 defeat at Crystal Palace yesterday.

Damon Lathrope’s side found themselves 3-0 down at the break against the Eagles, who sit sixth in the Championship, and two more goals either side of Jade Bradley’s first for the Golden Girls condemned the visitors to just a second away loss of the season.

Palace were quickly out of the blocks and keeper Georgie Ferguson was forced into an early save. Watford matched their opponents' initial intensity but fell behind to Hollie Olding’s 13th-minute strike from range.

The lead was doubled ten minutes later when Annabel Blanchard tapped home after Ferguson had saved her initial effort, but the Hornets sought to respond with Gemma Davison seeing a goalbound shot blocked wide, before she had a rebound from a free-kick saved after Anne Meiwald had been felled just outside the penalty area.

Annie Rossiter stung Natalia Negri’s gloves in first-half stoppage-time, but Blanchard’s second and a Polly Doran goal immediately after half-time put the tie to bed for the hosts.

Bradley scored her first Watford goal on the hour soon after replacing Rossiter, firing into the bottom corner after a cross from fellow substitute Bianca Baptiste had been deflected through to her.

Baptiste and Adekite Fatuga-Dada had further opportunities, but Elise Hughes rounded off an emphatic win for the hosts five minutes from time.

Meanwhile, Watford’s on-loan defender Grace Garrad has joined Norwegian side Stabaek Football.

The 19-year-old, who joined in a temporary move from West Ham United, scored three goals in 13 appearances for the Hornets this season, but has moved to Scandinavia to pursue a professional opportunity.