Royston Town Ladies booked their place the final of the Herts Ladies County Cup after beating Watford 3-1.

From the very start Royston played a high tempo pressing game and they were unlucky not to take the lead in the second minute when striker Jo Rutherford broke through the hosts’ defence only to be denied by a tackle.

Rutherford made amends on 10 minutes she hit an unstoppable 30 yard volley into the top corner of the net.

With Royston’s midfield of Heather Parete, Paige Rolfe and Hannah Mardell dominating proceedings, the visitors continued to create chances and a storming run and cross from Emma Phipps saw Rutherford nearly doubled the lead.

A lapse in concentration saw Watford equalise from a corner on the half hour mark but Royston kept up the pressure and Rutherford beat the offside trap to neatly tuck the ball past the advancing Watford keeper.

Leading 2-1 at the restart, the Royston defence of Rebakah Frisk, Katie Seymour, Amy Cooper and skipper Gemma Barlow put in a brilliant performance and on the few occasions Watford did create chances they were denied by some great goalkeeping from Grace Leslie.

The defining moment came with six minutes left when Amy Shepherd, playing her last game for Royston before leaving to coach in the USA, found Georgia Gannaway in the box with a slide-rule pass which was dispatched.

On the final whistle Town’s Manager Lewis Endacott, said: “I couldn’t have asked anything more from my players who against a very footballing side delivered a magnificent team performance. I’m very proud of them all.”