Lee Martin missed a second half penalty as Town’s reserves lost 1-0 against Watford at Boreham Wood on Monday evening. Lewis Young, brother of England midfielder Ashley, netted the game’s only goal in the 25th minute.

Town's Owen Garvan saw a shot tipped over on 16 and from the resultant corner Pim Balkestein had a header cleared off the line.

Michael Bryan hit the bar for the home side soon after and in the 25th minute the Hornets went in front. Young was played in from the Watford left behind Jack Ainsley and hit a shot under Arran Lee-Barrett.

Young came close to scoring a second before the break when Lee-Barrett tipped a cross-shot round the post.

Town, who were playing with Lee Martin up front with Colin Healy behind him, should have been back on terms just before the break but Jack Colback couldn’t finish at the far post after a break from Reggie Lambe.

Early in the second half Balkestein had a header cleared, then on 66 the Blues had a golden opportunity to restore parity. Eddie Oshodi was harshly penalised for handball as a Lambe cross came into the box and Martin took the responsibility from the spot. Keeper Richard Lee went one way and the ball went the other but unfortunately for Town the wrong side of the post.

Watford keeper Jonathan Bond made a fine save from a powerful Balkestein strike on 79, then four minutes later pushed a Martin shot round his post. Late on Watford could have increased their lead with Lee-Barrett making two sharp saves.

Town, for whom Jack Colback was probably the standout performer, showed a lot of endeavour without creating much in the way of end product, perhaps unsurprisingly with two midfielders playing in the striking roles for the most part.

The game was watched by first team coaches Tony Loughlan and Steve Foley and chief scout Steve McCall.

Reserves: Lee-Barratt, Ainsley, Brown, Balkestein, Carson, Upson (Murray 70), Garvan, Healy, Colback, Lambe (Hyam 74), Martin. Unused: McLoughlin, Eastman, Cawley.

Thanks to Terry Roberts for the report.

Photo: Action Images

blue added 21:23 - Nov 2 Strong Reserves Squad for Watford Trip,mmmm what went wrong?????
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nobbyclark added 22:11 - Nov 2 Martin is crap. Alex Ferguson is no mug. If he was any good he wouldnt have sold him on. Sorry to be negative on this one.
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Radlett_blue added 22:19 - Nov 2 Martin looked pacy tonight & worked hard in an unfamiliar role. However, he did not and never has looked remotely worth the fee we supposedly paid.
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copamundial added 22:35 - Nov 2 Have to agree with radlett_blue and nobbyclark martin is rubbish can't believe he was ever and man u
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TedTurnip added 23:04 - Nov 2 Martin and Garvan need to start impressing if only for the clubs who will come in for them in January. Goodbye I am afraid whether we like it or not. I rather suspect that Richard Wright will be amongst them. That will be Januarys contraversial selling. The next 'Jordan Rhodes' sale. Although in my opinion have we missed any of the above three in recent weeks? Not many goals conceded, a win and a midfield that can actually drop back and pick up play. I dont think we need them anyhow.

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nobbyclark added 00:17 - Nov 3 Richard Wright is a great shot stopper but crap at coming out for crosses and stuff. He is a good reserve keeper. Going back to Martin what was the fee paid?? 1.8 quid wasnt it??? Maybe he can turn it around but for that kind of money i would have bought players in the Championship who have experience to get us promotion???
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Back_The_Boss added 06:35 - Nov 3 Sounds like we had enough chances to win the game IMO Martin is too lightweight
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Radlett_blue added 07:09 - Nov 3 Not so. The penalty was our only real goal chance. Other efforts were from distance.
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Bergholtblue added 08:14 - Nov 3 Why wasn't Wright playing in goal. Begovic is only on loan after all. If anything happens to James at portsmouth he could be called back. Surely it would be better to keep Wrighty match fit.
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blueherts added 09:42 - Nov 3 To say Colback was our 'best player' summed it up , Ainsley and Carson looked ok but the 'Bigger names ' were shocking - Martin ran around alot with like you would expect a left winger playing up front alone - Healy , Garvan and Brown were very average - Why Martin should take a penalty when he obviously has no confidence and cant hit a barn door seemed strange - Ferguson must be laughing £2m keeps his reserve academy going and we let Rhodes go .. Wickham was missed We didnt deserve to get anything out of it Is Ainsley the only one left from our Youth Cup team still with us ? I think so ..

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Jimmy86 added 10:18 - Nov 3 I have to agree with all the people who are saying we shouldn't have signed martin for the fee which we did, which I believe was 1.6 million in the summer, was in the same crop as chris eagles and out of the 2 of them id rather have signed eagles. martin is too light weight, and seems to be a bit me, me, me when he plays. Keane likes having 3 keepers in his squad and currently begovic is number 1 and played awesome against derby, why wright isn't playin in reserves is a bit of a mystery, lee barrett has got the nod and as a keeper needs games and is prob bottom of the pecking order, I personally hope both martin and garvan either lift their games big time or move on. martin played only a couple of games for utd and went on loan at 5 other different clubs, when he was at forrest last yr he didn't hold down a regular first team place, so that says something. squad player at best not a first team regular

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GarvanIsGod added 11:31 - Nov 3 Oh well.
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ipswichfrancis added 13:18 - Nov 3 so many negative assessment of martin, so did keane do his homework when he splashed the money for a below-average player?..... give it a thought
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blueherts added 13:43 - Nov 3 Answer - probably the same 'research' he did with Priskin - If you speak to people at Watford he was lazy - not a Keane trait me thinks - come to think of it there are a couple of other strange signings - Fact , players do not want to come and play for keane - Management is all about being a good communicator and being able to manage and deal with all types of personalities - trouble with Keane is if they dont fit his mould - leave em out /ignore em .If you have young players playing in their first senior match you might expect the Manager to talk with them - not our Roy - fact Carling Cup this year .The guy is an oddball BUT I will always support the team but he is not good for the club .long term

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tractorboybig added 14:11 - Nov 3 yeah, but who is buying the players? keen? or a mystery mr someone?
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tractor_lady added 14:53 - Nov 3 Thing is many were slatting Norris a while back saying he was never worth the money, now he has gone everyone is saying he is our best player - fickle being a supporter at times! Personally i think Martin shows signs of brilliance at times, but most of the time he is just not good enough - is there a brilliant player waiting to grow, lets hope so :-). Prisken lazy, well Pablo was guilty of that last year, look at him now was all over the pitch saturday so hopefully some of that will rub off. I do think Prisken has the skill if Roy can drum some fighting spirit into him he will come good....... Garvin, he has had chances in reserve to impress, it just hasnt happened - heart not it in i feel, hasnt been for some time, sadly another Shane Supple. Reggie Lambe seems a good one to watch for the future, seems our reserves do better when they field less side lined first team players :-) Assume as Prisken wasnt given a run out he is starting saturday?

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blueherts added 15:08 - Nov 3 Good call re our ressies doing better without first teamers - alot more fight and passion when the youngsters are playing together - like any team if they get used to way of playing then along come 5 or 6 first teamers playing at half clip of course it is gonna affect them . Martin is not good enough , Norris was just never played in right role before - Priskin - I have spoken to guys at Watford , not supporters and they will tell you about his attitude .

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ChambersM added 15:44 - Nov 3 £2M well spent (by Keane) eh?
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cartface07 added 10:19 - Nov 4 i hate martin he is so crap! what a waste of money!! also y is garvan not playing for the first team!!!!!????!!! he is one of our best playes out ther!
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