An impressive performance from a young Town reserve side secured a 3-1 victory over Watford at Boreham Wood on Thursday evening. Matty Whichelow put the hosts ahead before goals from Jack Ainsley, Billy Clark and Tom Eastman wrapped up a deserved victory for Chris Kiwomya’s Blues.
As expected, Brian Murphy made his return in goal after breaking his ankle just before Christmas, and Luca Civelli also played in a team that was made up mostly of first-year professionals and academy scholars. In comparison, the Hornets included senior players Dale Bennett, Michael Bryan, Matty Whichelow and Marvin Sordell.
The hosts almost took the lead early on when keeper Murphy saw a shot from Chez Isaac late and just managed to fumble the ball round the post for a corner.
Town’s first opening came on 17 when Carel Tiofack hit a left-foot shot that keeper Rene Gilmartin had to push round his post.
On the half hour, Murphy made a good save down low from the dangerous Whichelow, who scored all five goals in Watford’s 5-0 thrashing of Stevenage’s reserves on Monday evening.
Caolan Lavery came closest to scoring for Town in the first half when his effort, following a cross from Carel Tiofack, was saved well by Gilmartin, who had earlier needed treatment following a clash with Jack Ainsley.
However, Watford took the lead in the one minute of stoppage time at the end of the first period. Whichelow got the ball off Sordell before striking a 25-yarder that flew past Murphy and into the net.
Town made a change at half-time with Joe Whight replacing Rory McKeown at left-back and the visitors started the second half brightly.
Billy Clark capitalised on some sloppy midfield play before feeding Lavery who hit his shot over the crossbar after being forced slightly wide.
However, Town didn’t have to wait long to equalise and they did so on 57 minutes. Argentinian Civelli, who had his best game in a Town shirt to date, whipped in a dangerous cross from the left that was volleyed into the net by makeshift striker Jack Ainsley. Despite starting his career with Town as a frontman, Ainsley has been converted into a centre-back and more recently a right-back over the last couple of seasons, but he showed he hasn’t lost that predatory instinct with a smart finish, adding to his two recent goals against Southend's second string.
Lavery’s left-foot shot was blocked by some desperate Watford defending before Clark was lucky not to be sent off for a crunching tackle on Watford full-back Aaron Tumwa, the midfielder escaping with just a yellow card.
Ainsley had another volley which was this time blocked before Town deservedly took the lead with 13 minutes remaining. Clark’s original freekick was blocked but he reached the ball first and hit a low 20-yard drive through the crowded penalty area and into the net.
And two minutes later, Town scored their third and made the three points secure. Ainsley latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area before feeding Eastman, who had stayed up from a freekick, and the centre-back coolly slotted the ball under the body of Gilmartin.
A thoroughly impressive performance from a young Town side was refreshing to see. Murphy didn’t have much to do in the second half, although he commanded his area well, and Civelli was constantly tracking back, as well as being involved in some wonderful link-up play. Meekings and Eastman dominated the more senior strike pairing of Whichelow and Sordell, whilst Hyam and Clark ran the second half from the centre of midfield.
Reserves: Murphy, Bennett, McKeown (Whight 46), Hyam, Meekings, Eastman, Tiofack, Clark, Lavery (Jones 73), Ainsley and Civelli. Unused: Maduako.
Report: James Ager