Town’s reserves ended their Totesport.com Football Combination East Division home campaign with a 0-0 draw against Watford at Portman Road. The Blues had most of the first half chances with the Hornets doing better after the break, before Town finished the game strongly but without being able to find the net.
Chris Kiwomya’s men went close in the fifth minute when Conor Hourihane hit a 25-yard strike, which was superbly tipped over Hornets keeper Jack Bonham. From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared and then played back in and Jack Ainsley sent a low ball across the box just ahead of Tom Eastman.
Irish U21 international Hourihane, in central midfield alongside Luke Hyam with Billy Clark ahead of them, hit another effort in the 10th minute but this time just wide.
Lavery’s clever pass put Clark in a decent position on the edge of the area on 16 but the midfielder was forced off the ball.
A minute later Watford hit their first serious shot of the game. Brandon Horner crossed from the right and Dereece Gardner held off Ainsley but lobbed over the bar. Four minutes later, Chez Isaac’s 20-yard effort was deflected wide.
On 27 Ainsley found Lavery in space midway inside the Watford half and the Northern Ireland U21 international striker hit a shot which looked to be goalbound until Bonham pushed it around the post. From the corner, Hyam headed Clark’s ball in from the left over.
O’Connor, playing on the right of the midfield, lobbed into Bonham’s arms on 34 with the Blues continuing to look the side most likely to score, although without creating too many clear-cut opportunities. Three minutes later, Civelli turned a shot to the keeper from the left of the area.
The impressive Lavery, who is just back from three months out with a knee injury, cut a ball back from the byline inside the area on 40 but a Watford foot got in ahead of Clark. After the corner, Eastman beat Bonham in the air but the keeper claimed the loose ball.
Keeper Murphy, who had been a spectator for most of the first half was quickly into action after the break, getting down to his right to save Aaron Tumwa’s header from a corner.
On 55 Eastman did well to cut out Britt Assombalonga’s cross from the left then on the hour Hyam gave the ball away to the Watford striker with a poor pass on halfway but did well to get back to block his shot on the edge of the box. A minute later Mingoia flashed a freekick just wide after a foul by Clark.
The tiring Lavery was replaced by Northern Ireland U19 international Cormac Burke on 63, then three minutes later Isaac saw a shot from a left-wing cross deflect wide off Eastman after Hyam had again got caught in possession in the centre circle. A minute later Mingoia crossed from the right and Assombalonga headed wide.
The visitors were looking more likely to break the deadlock, but on 78 academy first-year scholar Joe Whight broke forward from left-back and sent in a dangerous low cross which someone should have latched on to.
Two minutes later Ainsley hit a low shot through to Bonham, then Burke forced the Hornets’ keeper to save with his fingertips from 25 yards with the Blues starting to get back on top.
Murphy was out quickly to punch ahead of Assombalonga in the 83rd minute, Josh Meekings requiring treatment having been caught by the Blues keeper as he did so.
The academy second-year centre-half was quickly back into the action and played a superb pass to Hourihane as he broke into the area but the Irish U21 international midfielder was just unable to take the ball down on his thigh.
Seconds later, with the Blues by now well in control, Whight did well to get his head to Ainsley’s cross but sent the ball over with neither keeper tested before the end.
Town had been the better side in the first half of a not overly entertaining match but as so often with the senior side this season significant openings were rare.
After the break Watford stepped up their game and were assisted by the Blues’ tendency to give the ball away. Town came back into it more strongly towards the end but were again unable to fashion a goal.
Keeper Brian Murphy had a largely quiet afternoon but did nothing wrong, while Luciano Civelli and Shane O’Connor showed their pedigree occasionally but without overly imposing themselves on the game.
Boss Paul Jewell watched the match along with assistant manager Chris Hutchings and coach Sean McCarthy.
Reserves: Murphy, Ainsley, Whight, Hyam, Meekings, Eastman, O’Connor (Jones 82), Hourihane, Lavery (Burke 63), Clark, Civelli: Unused: McKeown, Bennett, Maduako.
Watford: Bonham, Horner, Palmer, Hamilton-Forbes (Akubuine 90), Aldred, Tumwa, Bryant, Isaac, Assombalonga, Gardner (Archer 59), Mingoia. Unused: Gilmartin, Rosier, Hemati. Referee: Matt Stewart.