It was a second defeat for Watford Under-21s in five days as they were beaten 4-2 by Millwall this afternoon.
For half an hour at The Den, the game was trapped in a patch of grass 25 yards either side of the halfway line – the football was neat but it was all played well away from the danger areas.
The home side got themselves ahead when Watford failed to clear a corner and within four minutes had doubled their lead through 18-year-old striker Ajay Matthews, who joined the club from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee in January.
The Hornets barely offered anything of note going forwards before the break.
When the hosts added a third almost immediately after the restart it looked like game over, but Watford responded with two goals in a minute and, at 3-2, they were the better side for a spell.
However, once Millwall had gone 4-2 up from the spot the chances of a comeback were over and they went on to complete a victory takes them to within three points of Premier League Development League South leaders Brentford.
Watford stay sixth in the table and are back in action on Monday when they host Swansea at London Colney.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
8 – Massey shoots from just inside the box but it’s a routine save for Ortelli.
12 – A Millwall cross towards the near post was deflected but Ortelli was well placed to collect.
18 – Mullins plays the ball into Adeyemo who spots the run of Keyes and slips the ball into his path. However, having got into the box, Keyes scuffs his pass and the ball is cleared.
32 – Adeyemo gets a shot away but it’s a simple task for Roberts to gather.
38 – Millwall 1 (Dyer) Watford 0
A corner from the right isn’t cleared, the ball gets stuck inside the box, and Dyer turns to sweep it into the net.
42 – Millwall 2 (Matthews) Watford 0
Smith hits a deep, early cross from the right and Matthews gets in behind the Watford defence to turn it past Ortelli.
45 – Lamptey and Howland combine to set up a shooting chance for Matthews, but he fires across the face of goal.
Half-time – Millwall 2 Watford 0
47 – Millwall 3 (Smith) Watford 0
Watford concede a free kick barely a yard outside the box and Lions skipper Smith sends the ball up and over the wall, and past Ortelli.
49 – Millwall 3 Watford 1 (Coyne)
Keyes’ free-kick is blocked in the box but the ball falls perfectly for Coyne to hook a shot into the net.
50 – Millwall 3 Watford 2 (Keyes)
Lawson does well down the left to win the ball and then steadies himself before squaring for Keyes, who takes a touch before rifling a shot past Roberts.
63 – Eames drives into the box and manages to get the ball to Adeyemo who, despite being tightly marked, turns to curl a shot just wide.
68 – Baker gets behind the Watford defence onto the end of a long ball over the top, but when he releass a low drive Ortelli makes a fine stop.
72 – Millwall 4 (Baker pen) Watford 2
Gaspar’s underhit pass into his own box allows Baker to steal the ball, and Akomeah’s sliding challenge only succeeds in bringing the Millwall man down – he promptly gets up and scores the resultant penalty.
76 – Howland curls a free-kick from the edge of the box but Ortelli is well-positioned to collect it.
79 – Coyne curls a 25-yard effort which Roberts holds comfortably.
Full-time – Millwall 4 Watford 2
Watford: Ortelli; Eames, Buers, Coyne, Akomeah, Mullins, Massiah-Edwards (Shevchenko ht), Sikiru (Gaspar 60), Adeyemo (Garcia-Romero 81), Keyes, Lawson. Unused subs: Morris, Georgiou
