An element of revenge may be on Watford Ladies’ minds when they aim to return to the summit of the FA Women’s National League South table on Sunday.

The Golden Girls will take on Coventry United for the second time in two weeks after the current league leaders ended their opponents’ Women’s National League cup hopes with a 3-2 victory at Kings Langley.

The visitors twice opened up two-goal leads, only for Helen Ward and Katie O’Leary to halve the deficit on each occasion. But an equaliser was to elude Armand Kavaja’s side.

With Ward returning to captain the hosts having missed the 1-0 league victory at C&K Basildon Ladies due to international duty, the head coach made two more changes as Kat Huggins and Alysha Stojko-Down also started.

The tone of what proved to be an entertaining encounter was set early on as Hornets goalkeeper Weronika Baranowska pushed over a shot, with Ward clearing the target at the other end.

Baranowska was to be the busier keeper in the opening stages though, excelling to thwart Chenise Austin at close range before also denying Amy Wathan.

But there was little she could do to prevent Marie Gauntlett from making the breakthrough in the 22nd minute when she fired home from the edge of the box.

The home side’s response was positive; Linda Afuwakwah just unable to beat the outstretched leg of Susan Wood, the Coventry keeper again doing well to deny Ward after she pounced on a poor back pass, while O’Leary sent a good heading opportunity wide.

United were to have a couple of chances before the break without really testing Baranowska, but the visitors were to double their lead early in the second half when Lois Jefferies was presented with a straightforward finish after a cross looped up.

It could have got worse for the hosts but the value of a fine Baranowska save to deny Amber Hughes was emphasised when an O’Leary through ball set Ward away and she coolly lifted the ball over Wood to make it 2-1.

Watford would have been hoping to push on from that goal, but there was little they could do about the manner in which they fell 3-1 behind; Jade Brook taking aim and finding the top corner from 30 yards.

The Hornets have shown their character on several occasions already this season though, and it came to the fore again as they once again reduced the deficit when O’Leary converted from close range after Samantha Hallsworth had overlapped.

It was the scorer of the Golden Girls’ second goal who was to have the best chance to equalise, but Wood came out on top of their one-on-one encounter.

Watford go into Sunday's league meeting at Daventry Town a point behind their opponents in the table.