As the first female referee to take charge of an English Football League game Rebecca Welch was praised for her performance by the managers of both sides she was charged with.

Rebecca, 37, oversaw Port Vale's 2-0 win at Harrogate Town in League Two on Monday. In the elite category of referees and on FIFA's international list, Ms Welch, from Washington, County Durham, previously officiated seven National League games this season. She was the first to be given a game from the off and had a day without any major controversy, barring a contentious decision to wave away Harrogate's appeals for a first-half penalty.

On his assessment of her performance, Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke said: "I thought she was focused and didn't get much wrong. I was moaning about one or two decisions, but generally it was quite consistent. We need to see more women referees and lineswomen moving forward. They should be judged like anyone else and she's had a good start."

Harrogate manager Simon Weaver said: "I think she was very good indeed. Important calls were made throughout and they were the right calls. Hopefully it's just par for the course that we see female referees and officials in the EFL. It's about time."

Speaking after her appointment was announced last week, Welch told the EFL's official website: "Initially I wasn't really aware of being appointed as the first female referee.

"I was just given the appointment and I was over the moon but, when you kind of reflect on it, you think you're the first woman ever to do this, so I'm extremely proud and my family is extremely proud too."

Amy Fearn was the first woman to referee an EFL game as she came on as an injury replacement in the 2010 Championship game between Coventry and Nottingham Forest.