Doncaster Rovers Belles 3 Watford Ladies 1: Belles go six points clear at FAWSL2 summit

Goals from Jess Sigsworth, Sam Tierney and Maz Pachaco were too much for the visitors, who scored a consolation through Anneka Nuttall.

The result leaves Watford without a league win and keeps Belles at the top of FAWSL2, six points ahead of Millwall Lionesses.

Pacheco fired a warning shot after eight minutes, with Watford defender Sydney Hinchcliffe deflecting her effort against her own post.

Sigsworth went one better a minute later, poking in from close range after Watford failed to clear Pacheco’s cross.

Tierney scored her first ever senior goal on 12 minutes, nodding the excellent Kirsty Hanson’s cross in off the crossbar.

A defensive mix-up between Sophie Bradley-Auckland and Leandra Little allowed Helen Ward to go through for a rare Watford chance, but she her misjudged attempt to chip Bethan Davies went straight into the keeper’s arms.

The Belles made it three through Pacheco, who beat several Watford players on a slalom run through the middle before sliding a low finish past Fran Kitching.

Watford pulled one back just a minute before half time, with captain Anneka Nuttall’s attempted cross flying over Davies’ head and in off the far post.

Doncaster thought they had made it four through captain Little midway through the second half, only for the lineman’s flag to rule it out for offside.

Another goal was ruled out on 70 minutes as Sigsworth went clean through the middle, a late linesman’s flag ruled it out for a foul on Hinchcliffe.