WATFORD Academy recorded their third win on the bounce with a 2-0 victory over Coventry at London Colney on Saturday (13 October) morning.

A goal in each half thanks to Kieron Forbes and Liam Henderson was enough to earn another three points for the season as the under 18s continue their recent momentum after wins against Cardiff and Birmingham City.

It was another young side again featuring a number of schoolboys, including Eddie Oshodi, who made his debut for England under 16s as a substitute during the week in the draw with Northern Ireland. Oshodi again stepped off the bench and came on at centre half during the second half.

Luck was on the side of the Hornets early on as they took the lead in the eighth minute. Forbes raced through and beat Neil Collett in the Coventry goal and the strike stood despite strong appeals for offside from the visitors.

Watford defender Raphael Brown made a crucial last ditch block to deny Ashley Cain for the Sky Blues and down the other end Billy Gibson will have wished he went for goal after a sweeping move from the Golden Boys.

Starting in the left back position with Louis Lavers the ball came to Forbes outside the box and he curled the ball out to Gibson who had made his way into the area. With a shot looking the likeliest option the winger decided to unselfishly cross but none of the youngsters could connect with his dipping ball.

The Hornets were making the best use of their free kicks and this will have impressed the on-looking coaches. Gibson stood over the ball on the Hornets' left hand flank and instead of planting a ball in the box he cut back and set up Lavers who was rushing towards the by-line. The full back beat the challenge and sent in a curling cross that was urgently put behind for a corner by a Coventry defender.

Piero Mingoila was again impressive on the right hand side of midfielder; he was covering well and linking up with his fellow schoolboy Lee Hodson at right back.

Only the woodwork stood between an equaliser for the Sky Blues at the start of the second period. In the 47th minute Dean Marshall hit the post and despairingly for the visitors no-one was there to put the rebound into the net.

Kieron Forbes

Forbes looked a danger throughout and looks to be enjoying the more advanced role he has taken up in recent weeks. His great run and shot from outside the box brought about a great fingertip save from Collett.

Then in the 50th minute the Hornets doubled their lead thanks to the hard-working Henderson. The striker reacted quickest to a cross from the Hornets' left flank and his pinpoint shot was enough to beat Collett.

Before the match was over Henderson hit the side netting as he went looking for a second and Gibson started to see more of the ball wide on the flank. Oshodi came on at centre half and the 15-year-old effortlessly slotted into the heart of defence alongside captain Dale Bennett.

Cole Penny came on with appropriately half an hour remaining and the schoolboy, another one from Mark Warburton's under 16s squad, looked calm on the ball and did the simple things very well in the centre of the park.

The Academy are in action again this Saturday (20 October) against Bristol City at Watford's training ground at London Colney, kick off is at 10.30am.    

Watford: Horton; Hodson, Lavers, Brown (Oshodi 58), Bennett (c); Jenkins, Mingoia, Kiernan (Penny 63), Gibson; Forbes, Henderson (Sordell 82). Subs not used: Bond, Otshudi.

Scorers: Forbes (8), Henderson (50)

Coventry: Collett; Robinson; Hollist (Jones 24), Grandison, Burgess; Ritchie, Cain, Walker (Clarke 75), Fraser; Ashraf (Obori 62), Marshall. Subs not used: Quirke, Jeffers.

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