Watford Women are one win away from securing promotion to WSL 2 after beating Exeter City 5-0 at Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Girls have now won all eight of their league matches in 2026 and can secure their spot in the second tier by beating Gwalia United next weekend.
In the first of two consecutive home matches being played in WD18, Renee Hector's side were dominant.
Maddie Perry continued her fine form with a brace, while Anna Filbey, Flo Fyfe and Meg Chandler were all on the scoresheet as the hosts scored four goals in a rampant second half.
Coral Haines had nearly given the hosts the lead after seven minutes, before Perry had the ball in the net twice but was flagged offside on both occasions.
In between those disallowed efforts, Sophie Hillyerd made a big save, tipping an Amber Pollock effort onto the post.
Another City effort was cleared off the line before Watford did take the lead at the other end, Perry heading in at the back post after the Exeter goalkeeper Abbi Bond had missed her punch.
Maddie at the back post! 💥
1-0 | 44’ https://t.co/hai6agDW9A pic.twitter.com/OPBJJZZ2bp— Watford FC Women (@WatfordFCWomen) March 29, 2026
Watford pushed on after the break, Lachante Paul missing a good opportunity before Dre Georgiou was the latest victim of the offside flag.
Eventually, though, Hector's side did make it two.
Filbey was on hand to tap in at the Rookery End to double her side's lead and essentially wrap up the match.
A brace for Maddie Perry! ⚽️⚽️
3-0 | 74’ https://t.co/0x0JhfrGF2 pic.twitter.com/bf0vrIWlEf— Watford FC Women (@WatfordFCWomen) March 29, 2026
The Golden Girls enjoyed themselves from there, soon making it 3-0 when Fyfe crossed from the left and Perry dispatched with her left foot.
As is typical of their campaign, Watford did not stop there.
Fyfe added a fourth with 15 minutes to play, the Vicarage Road crowd getting their money's worth as their team continued to attack.
Chandler gets it across the line! 💪
5-0 | 90’ https://t.co/exyWh6Okrb pic.twitter.com/xYxoIk60FG— Watford FC Women (@WatfordFCWomen) March 29, 2026
And as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, Chandler put a seal on the fine win, scrambling in at the near post from a corner.
Attentions now turn to South Wales next weekend on what could be the day the job gets done.
Watford XI: Hillyerd, Skyers, Chandler, Lyon (McClean 83), Filbey, Georgiou (Carpenter 63), Wilson, Haines (Rossiter 85), Paul (Gray 83), Perry, Fyfe (Ayisi 83)
Unused subs: McSheffrey, Whitelock
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