Ronan Murray netted an equaliser 12 minutes from time as a strong Town reserves side drew 1-1 with Watford in a friendly at a very windy Playford Road this afternoon. The Hornets had gone ahead against the run of play earlier in the second half through Prince Buaben.
Jack Ainsley, playing in central midfield, headed wide early on for the Blues, then on 11 Nathan Ellington sent a dangerous ball across the Watford area after good work from Murray but no one was on hand to add the final touch.
Two minutes later, Arran Lee-Barrett saved well from Buaben, then on 25 Ainsley should have put Town in front when Joe Whight’s deep cross from the left found him at the far post. However, a defender’s toe prevented the Felixstowe-born youngster from opening the scoring.
The Blues continue to look much the greater threat and a minute later Ellington fed Murray, the Irishman taking the ball past a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before hitting a shot across keeper Jonathan Bond, who saved down to his left.
Chris Iwelumo should have put Watford in front in the 28th minute when Troy Deeney headed a corner back across the box but the ex-Colchester man nodded over.
Ellington missed a Murray ball in from the left on 35, the strong wind probably having got the better of the one-time Watford player, who again looked sharp against his former club. Moments later, Deeney shot low to Lee-Barrett.
Ainsley again missed a good chance as the half entered its final five minutes. Ellington played a pass into the former England U17 international’s path as he broke into space from midfield but his lob flew just over Bond’s crossbar.
Just before the break, an Ellington shot was blocked inside the area leading to ambitious appeals for a penalty, then Colin Healy sent a dangerous ball across the box but no one got a touch.
The Blues made three changes at the break, schoolboy Byron Lawrence and Luke Hyam came into the midfield and Caolan Lavery into the attack with Joe Whight, Shane O’Connor and Nathan Ellington making way.
Murray shot over soon after the start of the second period, then Buaben hit a low effort to Lee-Barrett.
Lawrence found Lavery in space breaking in from the Town right in the 59th minute, the Northern Ireland U21 international hitting a shot which Bond tipped over.
Three minutes later, the Hornets went in front. Hyam lost possession inside the Town half and Deeney sent away Buaben, who hit a 20-yard which Lee-Barrett ought to have dealt with but instead it bounced over his outstretched arm as he dived to his left and nestled in the back of the net. The scorer subsequently required lengthy treatment for what looked like an ankle injury.
Murray shot wide as the Blues looked to get back on terms, then Hyam made an impressive run down the right before cutting the ball back to the Irish U21 international striker, whose shot was blocked.
On 72 Lawrence found Murray not far outside the area and the striker curled a Chopra-esque shot which keeper Bond did well to save to his left.
The Blues finally got the goal they deserved in the 78th minute after Jack Ainsley made a burst down the right and cut the ball into the area. Healy hit a deflected shot which Murray helped on past the keeper and into the net.
Healy hammered a 30-yard freekick off the top of the bar on 88, then seconds before the final whistle Ainsley should have won it. Lawrence found him with a cross from the left but the keeper saved Ainsley’s strike.
Scorer Murray was amongst a number of bright performances for the Blues, along with both his strike partners, Nathan Ellington in one half and Caolan Lavery in the second. The Northern Irish U21 international continues to look worthy of a professional contract with his academy scholarship up this month.
New signing Reece Wabara had a relatively quiet game, although showed his pace breaking from right-back on a couple of occasions in the second half, while diminutive 15-year-old schoolboy Byron Lawrence caught the eye after the break, skipping his way down the left on a number of occasions and creating opportunities for Lavery and Ainsley.
Sean McCarthy’s side were watched by boss Paul Jewell, assistant manager Chris Hutchings and U18s coach Russell Osman, while ex-Blues assistant boss Tony Loughlan was in charge of the Hornets.
Former Town keeper Richard Wright was also present and is still keeping fit by joining in with training at Playford Road.
Reserves: Lee-Barrett, Wabara, Whight (Lawrence 46), Ingimarsson, Smith, Kennedy, Healy, Ainsley, Ellington (Lavery 46), O'Connor (Hyam 46) Murray. Unused: Cropper.