THE Golden Boys came away with an excellent 2-0 win at Reading at the weekend thanks to goals from Michael Bryan and schoolboy Gavin Massey.
Academy boss Mark Warburton and Sean Dyche again fielded a young side, with just two second year scholars and six first year scholars involved.
The Hornets were missing Billy Gibson, Rob Kiernan and Marvin Sordell - the front man on work experience at Wealdstone.
Dyche said: We always play young and we believe in that. To go there and give such a good display was excellent.
"We played some very good football - the goals came from a Michael Bryan penalty and from Gavin Massey. We fully deserved it and it was a thoroughly good performance throughout the 90 minutes."
Extra responsibility has been placed on Massey's shoulders with second year scholar Sordell out on work experience at Wealdstone.
Dyche added: "Gavin has done well, we feel we're strong at Academy level with people coming into the scholarship system over the next few years.
"Nothing is set in stone as young people develop in different ways, but we think we're strong. Gavin is one of a few who has been getting a taste of under 18s this year, so it will be interesting to see how a few of them come through. The current first year scholars have done very well too."
Overall, Dyche and his colleagues are pleased with the way the season has gone, a number of players have moved towards the first team and many have cemented places in the reserve team.
Dyche commented: "Ross Jenkins went away with the first team early on and has never come back - so that's brilliant.
"The lads who came out of the scholarship system last year have featured in the first team which is encouraging. The likes of Billy Gibson and Rob Kiernan along with Ross Jenkins have signed development contracts - that's very positive.
"The season so far has gone very well. Results have been mixed but our big result has always been to get people through and into the first team.
"We're confident that lads will push on out of the group we have now."
Finally, the ex-Hornet believes the 'work experience' for Sordell at Ryman league level will do him a world of good - giving him a different test to Academy football.
"The main thing for Marvin is the reality - some of the games at non league level with all respect are not as pretty as youth team football.
"It gives them a feel for the desire, the intensity; at that level people are still very serious. There will be a crowd there as well, it's mainly to give him a reality of what it is and to learn how to get into a game when it's not so perfect.
"The ball may come to you less frequently so you have to make sure you keep hold of it and do something with it. This is a very important part of his development. We've had good results from players who have been there before.
"I think it will be a real eye opener for Marvin, he's been on a really good run over the last few months and it's just another part of his development."
READING (4-4-2): Pritchard; Tyler, Cox, Joyce (c), Seymour; Baggie, Kelly, Walcott; Vasilev, White. Subs: Rowe, Taylor, Raymond, Guddard, Browne.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Antal; Hodson, Oshodi, Fraser, Lavers; Bryan, Brooks, Penny, Whichelow; Otshudi, Massey (Mingoia 65). Subs not used: Angus, North (gk), Warburton, Rosier.
SCORERS: READING: none. WATFORD: Bryan (20), Massey (38).
REFEREE: C J Lymer.
