Rovers Ladies made it back-to-back home to start the season with midfielder Tash Fenton looking to turn Bamber Bridge into a fortress.

Gemma Donnelly’s side beat Sheffield United 2-0 on the opening day but responded to a setback on the road last time out at Sunderland to get back to winning ways.

Jade Richards, Fenton and Annabel Blanchard were all on target before Watford pulled a goal back late on.

“We pride ourselves on trying to perform on our home pitch,” Fenton said.

“We don’t want opposition teams coming here even thinking they can take points from us.

“We mentioned that again in the team talk before the game.

“It’s also about putting a good show on in front of our own fans.”

Rovers then took control of the game after a slow start as Farah Crompton went close when her effort from just outside the box was saved by Georgie Ferguson.

After the Watford ‘keeper was superb in somehow keeping Saffron Jordan’s close-range effort out, Rovers deservedly broke the deadlock in the 27th minute.

An in-swinging corner kick from Ellie Leek wasn’t cleared, and the loose ball fell to centre-back Richards, who drilled home clinically from 15 yards. 

“We started a bit slow in the last few games, and we had been wanting to prioritise getting off to a quicker start,” Fenton added.

“It probably took us about 10 or 15 minutes before we really found our flow in this game.

“Once the first goal went in, it seemed to settle us down a bit and we played some really good football.”

Rovers doubled their lead six minutes before the break when midfielder Fenton robbed Georgia Clifford before thumping home a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

And the delighted vice-captain said: "I’m really pleased with my goal of course, but the main thing is the three points for the team.

“One of my personal goals for the season was maybe to contribute a bit more on the scoring front, and with assists too, but the main thing was getting the win and the three points.”

Blanchard rifled home a free-kick with 11 minutes to play as Rovers found a third, before newly-promoted Watford hit back with a consolation courtesy of Adekite Fatuga-Dada’s late free-kick.

Rovers: Eleanor Heeps, Kayleigh McDonald, Helen Seed, Jade Richards, Hannah Coan, Natasha Fenton, Emma Doyle, Annabel Blanchard; Farah Crompton, Saffron Jordan, Ellie Leek

Substitutes: Megan Hornby for Leek 56, Chelsey Jukes for McDonald 79, Lauren Thomas for Crompton 79, Mia Parry for Fenton 84, Millie Chandarana for Blanchard 84

Not used: Alex Brooks

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