A first half brace from Ruby Sealey put the U’s in control, and although Wales midfielder Anna Filbey pulled a goal back 10 minutes into the second period, United ground out the three points.

The U’s started the game on the front foot and took the lead with just eight minutes on the clock, when Sealey found the back of the net from outside the penalty box.

Watford sought an equaliser and went close through Sophie McLean and Elkie Bowyer, but United held firm and had opportunities of their own at the other end.

Phoebie Poole drew a save from Maria O’Sullivan following a Leah Burridge corner before the U’s doubled their lead when Sealey worked her way into the six-yard box and slotted home.

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The hosts came out fighting early in the second half and got on the scoresheet when Filbey threw herself at a deep cross to head in at the back post.

United then had to dig in and defend well for most of what remained, and Watford came closest to a leveller in stoppage time when an Annie Rossiter volley from a corner was cleared off the line.

The U’s held on though to secure all three points, keeping them three behind leaders Hashtag United, who won 2-1 at home against Gwalia United.

After the game, United manager Sam Rose said: “I thought we were excellent in the first half, 2-0 up, and we’ve shown character and resilience to keep Watford out for large parts of the second half. We’re over the moon we’ve won.

“We knew we were coming here to press them and try to create problems that way, and we did.

“That’s given us the opportunity to score the goals we scored. We played some good football at times in the first half, and we definitely held our own with that.

“At 2-0 up, I said to the girls at half-time ‘it’s coming, we’re going to have to suffer and there’ll be times when we’ll have to defend the box’. I thought we did that excellently in the second half.

“I thought the back five were outstanding, and the midfield worked tremendously hard, and our front three were up and down trying to get us on the break and press, and trying to force mistakes all game.

“I’m more pleased with the manner of the defending and the out of possession work because we know we’re a good football team, but if we can’t play and teams stop us, and have the majority of the football, then what are we going to do?

“We’ve shown we can do the other side of it, and we can get ourselves in front, and we know how to hold onto a game.”