WITH the recent snow fall and FA Youth Cup victory at Hartlepool behind them it should have been a welcome return to home soil for the Watford Academy boys, but they were upstaged by their visitors on Saturday (23 January) morning.

Sadly two late goals denied the Golden Boys victory as a determined MK Dons side snatched the points after a dogged display.

After an impressive away win for Watford at the MK Dons' expense earlier in the season it was evident the Dons were keen to avoid a loss this time around and they got out of the traps quickest with Martel Powell turning his defender and teeing up Justin Dowling, but his shot was well saved by Jonathan Bond in the Watford goal.

Inside ten minutes the MK Dons had their second attempt on goal, this time Charlie Collins striking a curling effort which Bond was again equal to between the sticks.

With the away team on top Matty Whichelow helped shift some momentum back to the Hornets by carving open the Dons defence only to selflessly cross behind Sean Murray instead of shoot after his jinking run into the box.

Murray was involved in the next talking point after showing great control he slipped in Jack Warburton on the edge of the box only for the midfielder to be scythed down and the referee give nothing for the challenge.

With Watford now back in the game, Murray produced a superb weaving run to ghost through the defence striking a low effort which Ashley Harrison did well to save low to his left and push past the post for a corner.

With three minutes left in the half Watford took the lead. Murray slipped a lovely ball through for Whichelow whose power and pace saw him beat his man on the outside, from there he picked out Murray on the penalty spot who fired a volley past Harrison as the Hornets took the advantage into the interval.

Matthew Whichelow made Watford's goal

Watford continued on the front foot at the start of the second half after Murray saw a free header cleared off the line from a Warburton corner.

The near miss sparked the Dons into life and Collins produced another save from Bond after a shot from the angle of the box.

George Williams then showed a greater desire to get a cross in at the Watford by-line and set up Collins who scuffed his shot over the bar.

With both sides making changes it was MK Dons who looked most likely to capitalise and a lovely move involving the impressive full back Adam Chicksen, Collins and David King saw the latter shoot a warning shot from distance over the bar.

Watford just couldn't seem to get back into the game but for all their play the Dons couldn't find the elusive goal to bring them back into the match.

Captain Tom Flanagan then saw a free header from a Chicksen free kick sail over the bar when he should have scored and many would have believed it wasn't to be the visitor's day.

But with five minutes left on the clock Chicksen swung in a dangerous corner only for Bond to misjudge the flight and allow the ball to ricochet off a Watford defender for an own goal.

Watford stopper Jonathan Bond

With their tails up the Dons smelt blood and two minutes later a Collins free kick was parried out by Bond only to fall straight to substitute George Baldock who lashed the ball in for the winner.

The Watford players fought until the end but the superb second half performance from the away team would prove too much for the Golden Boys as they face a tricky away fixture at Bristol City next time around.

WATFORD: Bond; Yiadom, Fenwick, Thompson, Angus; Warburton, Penny (Isaac 61), Brooks, Whichelow; Rosier, Murray.  Subs: Hemati, Irving (gk), Deer, Kalu.

SCORERS: Murray (43).