WATFORD'S academy started their season off last Saturday (22 August) with an unlucky away defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The youngsters got an early goal thanks to Matty Whichelow but couldn't hang onto the lead as the home side went into the break leading 2-1.

Whichelow was again on target for the Hornets minutes after the second half had got underway, but two more goals from Forest quashed the Watford attack and there was little the Hornets could do.

Piero Mingoia got a last gasp goal for the Hornets but time was not on the Golden Boys side as the final whistle went and the match gave the home side all three points.

WATFORD: Bond (gk); Angus, Oshodi, Lavers (Thompson 70); Brooks, Isaac, Mingoia (84), Yiadom, Whichelow (17, 48), Brooks; Rosier, Otshudi. Subs not used: Irving (gk), Murray, Hamilton, Deer.

FOREST: Darlow (gk), Sibson, Diagne, Elliot, Watson, Byrne, Thomson, Meadows, Mullen, Hopkinson, Sykes. Subs not used: Mytides (gk), Biansumba, Gibbons, Reynor, Artymatas.