WATFORD'S Academy players put on a superb display on Saturday morning (29 August) against a Newcastle United team that were unable to cope with the fluid passing football from the home side.

After the young Hornets narrowly lost at Nottingham Forest in the season opener, Mark Warburton was keen to see his players turn on the style at home and it didn't take long for the Golden Boys to spark into life.

Matty Whichelow saw an early header at the back post hit the side netting, after a great cross in by Piero Mingoia.

Before the Hornets had a chance to react to the miss, Samuel Ameobi had the visitor's best chance of the match.

With the ball played into the channel the striker lashed a shot across goal, only for 'keeper Jamie Irving to breathe a sigh of relief as the ball bounced back of his post and away to safety.

With the home midfield on top it took until the half hour mark to break the deadlock, Mingoia linking up well with Fabrice Otshudi who finished neatly in the six yard box.

Chez Isaac went close soon after, but it was Whichelow who made up for his earlier miss, again a ball in from the right found the on rushing midfielder at the far post and he finished well to double the lead.

Whichelow: On form for the 'Orns

Whichelow and Mingoia were causing problems all half and a volley from the former forced the Newcastle 'keeper into a superb save to keep his side in it.

The second half saw the Golden Boys carry on their dominant display. Mingoia a constant outlet on the wing was carving out chance after chance.

The pressure finally told when the tricky midfielder beat his man and teed up Isaac in the box who finished with aplomb to put the game out of sight.

With the game over, Newcastle lost some of their composure and an error at the back saw the defence nearly score an own goal, the ball somehow hitting a post to prevent any egg on faces.

Anthony Yiadom stepped up to make it four. The defender, having moved up into midfield in the second half, capped off a good display by prodding home after another Mingoia run and cross into the box.

Along with Whichelow, Mingoia was a threat all game for Waford

Whichelow got his second with some 10 minutes to go, after a lovely through ball allowed him to round the 'keeper and tuck the ball in to an empty net at a tight angle.

The midfielder could have had his hat trick after he harried a Newcastle defender into making a poor back pass, only to miss the chance - putting his effort wide of the post.

With the final whistle blown, Warburton takes his charges to Ipswich Town next weekend, hoping for another excellent performance and another three points, the future it seems is very bright and with prospects like these, fans can be sure to feel optimistic for the future at WD18.

WATFORD: Irving (gk); Yiadom (Rosier), Angus, Kiernan, Fenwick; Brooks, Penny (Thompson), Isaac (Lavers); Whichelow, Otshudi, Mingoia.

GOALS: Otshudi, Whichelow (x2), Isaac, Yiadom.

Report by Matthew Pearson.

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