Watford Women suffered extra-time heartbreak as their hopes of winning the FA WNL Cup ended in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest in the final at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.

Gemma Davison gave the Golden Girls a second-minute lead but they were pegged back by an equaliser from Charlotte Greengrass shortly before the interval and Yasmin Mosby put Forest in front early in the second half.

Poppy Wilson restored parity midway through the second period, but the Hornets’ hopes were to be ended by Gianna Mitchell five minutes from the end of extra-time.

Damon Lathrope’s side need to move on quickly from the disappointment, with Southern Premier Division leaders Oxford United coming to Vicarage Road on Thursday for a big top-of-the-table clash in the battle to win the league and secure a promotion play-off place.

The Hornets have made a habit of fast starts this season and they were at it again yesterday in somewhat unexpected fashion when Forest keeper Emily Batty was unable to keep Davison’s inswinging corner out of the net.

Watford couple have doubled their lead when Davison crossed towards Faye Brough, but the striker was unable to turn the ball on target from inside the six-yard box.

It took some outstanding defending from Megan Chandler to prevent their opponents from equalising on the break when she turned a Mia Moncaster follow-up onto the woodwork after Jacqui Goldsmid had saved the initial effort.

The Northern Premier Division leaders continued to press though, Sophie Domingo hitting the post before they did get back on terms when Greengrass scored from close range.

Forest’s dominance continued after the break, with Goldsmid denying Moncaster and Greengrass but the pressure told when Mosby slid home after the Watford keeper had kept out Becky Anderson’s long-range strike.

But Lathrope’s side pulled level in the 65th minute when Wilson pounced to head home after Davison had whipped in a free-kick that was caught by the wind and hit the crossbar before dropping down on the line.

The scorer remained at the centre of the action, first having a penalty appeal waved away after being caught in a red-shirted sandwich, before she showed her defensive qualities with an important block at the back post to help keep out a header.

The additional half-an-hour saw Helen Ward have an effort saved and Davison also go close, but the decisive moment arrived when Mitchell diverted home a dangerous Anderson through ball, with Goldsmid already committed.