A trip to Middlesbrough beckons for Watford FC Ladies in the third round of the SSE Women’s FA Cup after they beat Buckland Athletic Ladies 1-0 on Sunday.

Katie O’Leary’s 70th-minute goal was enough to settle the contest in the hosts’ favour as the tie was staged at the second time of asking, having been postponed the previous weekend.

The Hornets started promisingly and had three chances to take the lead in the opening 15 minutes. O’Leary fired narrowly over, Danielle Scanlon’s deflected shot was saved well by Abigail Bond, but the pick of the opportunities saw Leanne Bell clear the target after being found by Helen Ward.

Buckland began to get a foothold in the contest thereafter and created some chances, with Natalie Warman shooting off target before Hornets keeper Wernoika Baranowska was tested by a Courtney Butt effort.

The home side did have the ball in the net before the interval when O’Leary converted after a Ward header had hit the bar, but the flag was already raised for offside.

Watford continued to look the more threatening side after the restart, with the majority of the openings falling to Ward. The best saw the skipper denied by Bond following an Emily Hill run into the penalty area.

But the deadlock was to be broken when a fine pass from Scanlon picked out O’Leary and she showed good composure to fire home.

Buckland were not beaten though, and 10 minutes from time Baranowska had to make a superb stop to keep out Abigail Meyer’s left-footed strike after the home side had conceded possession.

Both sides had further opportunities during nine minutes of injury time, but Watford were able to see the job through.

Watford FC Ladies: Baranowska; Fatuga-Dada, Edwards, Hill, Hallsworth (Kettle 81), Scanlon, Stojko-Down, Carid (Afuwakwah 85), Ward, Bell, O’Leary (Harney 89).