Following a frustrating injury lay-off that has limited her to just one start this term, midfielder Francesca Ali was delighted to score her second goal of the season in Watford’s 5-3 win over Hashtag United.

Ali poked home the Golden Girls’ third in the second half, but the game was taken to extra-time at 3-3 before goals from Grace Garrad and Poppy Wilson sealed Watford’s place in the FAWNL Cup quarter-finals.

“It was good to be back,” Ali began. “Obviously I’ve been away for a bit through injury, but it was great to be back out there with the girls. It was a tough game, but we got over the line in the end.

“It feels like it has been a really long and tough few months, so to get back out there was amazing. I can’t think of a better group of people to be out there playing with.”

Despite facing lower league opposition Watford were tested by a resolute and physical Hashtag side, who came back from 3-1 down to take the game to extra-time. Ali was pleased that the Hornets could see the game out in the end, but felt her side were capable of a stronger performance.

“We knew what we were up against, we knew it was going to be a tough battle,” Ali continued. “We probably made hard work of it in certain areas of the game, but the main thing is we got the win, we grinded out the result and we can go into the New Year happy.”

Taking time to look back on the campaign so far, Ali feels the Hornets stand in good stead in league and cup competitions, crediting Head Coach Damon Lathrope and Assistants Laura Dyer and Matt Bevans.

“We knew it was going to be a challenge, but Damon, Bevs and Laura have recruited well and brought in some really good individual players,” said Ali. “With the players we’ve managed to keep from last season, it’s going really well, and we’ve got a really good team rapport at the moment, so long may that continue.”