WATFORD'S reserve team were beaten 2-0 at Boreham Wood FC by Wycombe Wanderers this evening (Monday) as two second half strikes did the damage. 

On a freezing night in north London the Golden Boys were undone by a young Wanderers side who didn't allow the 'Orns to get into their flow.

The Chairboys were boosted by the experience of Gareth Ainsworth and he was the man to put them ahead just after the break.

Will Buckley again started for the Hornets after he made his first appearance in a Watford shirt in the reserve win over Southend United last week. 

On seven minutes Lewis Young was denied after he drifted into the box from the right flank.

Wycombe took the game to Watford early on and Eddie Oshodi and Adam Thompson had plenty to deal with at the heart of defence.

On the quarter of an hour mark, Piero Mingoia was stopped in his tracks by a Wycombe defender after an excellent cross field ball into the penalty area picked out striker Gavin Massey.

He coolly laid the ball off to find Mingoia but he was thwarted by the visitors.

Buckley started in attack for the Golden Boys alongside Massey and on occasions he showed glimpses of his blistering pace.

He ran at the Chairboys in a determined fashion, showing a degree of strength as well, but the former Rochdale man was blocked by the away outfit.

On 16 minutes midfielder Mingoia curled a promising effort wide of Steve Arnold's post.

The build-up play was neat from the 'Orns as Jure Travner and Cole Penny combined well, with Penny's clever reverse ball catching the Chairboys by surprise.

His pass found the second year scholar and Mingoia flashed his shot wide.

Six minutes later the experienced Ainsworth hit a shot that eventually bobbled just wide of Jonathan Bond's right hand post.

Watford centre half Oshodi and Wycombe's Dan Fitchett were in the thick of a tussle for the ball and Ainsworth took full advantage and lashed an effort at goal. 

Stuart Green took the ball away from the feet of Oshodi on 28 minutes and headed towards goal before releasing the ball.

Oshodi and the Golden Boys managed to get men behind the ball though to rectify the situation, eventually clearing their lines after a ball in from the flank.

On 33 minutes, following a ball in by Ainsworth on the by-line, Watford's defenders were forced to block two goal bound efforts as first Lewis Spence and then midfielder Matt Bloomfield lashed shots at Bond in the net.

Oshodi was replaced by second year Academy scholar Theo Angus shortly afterwards - the centre half limping off. Angus filled in at left back with Travner switching to centre half to partner Thompson.

Three minutes later, Bloomfield popped up in the penalty box again as he struck a low shot that was well held by Bond.

Wycombe continued to push and former QPR man Ainsworth headed over the bar at the far post after a ball across field from the opposite flank.

As the clock nearly struck the 45th minute, Mingoia wriggled free on the left after a well-executed pass from Penny and the youngster struck the ball across goal.

It found its way into Buckley's path but the new arrival just ran out of space and wasn't able to bring the heavily weighted cross under control.

At the start of the second half Ainsworth had the beating of Angus down Watford's left side and he hooked in a deep cross to the back post that managed to evade all of the Chairboys.

Ainsworth was celebrating four minutes after the re-start as he scored a long-range effort as Bond was caught out.

Bond's clearance only reached the midfielder and he picked out his spot as the 'keeper was caught out and despite his effort to get back in place he was unable to stop the goal.

On 55 minutes Buckley struck the side netting with a strong strike after a swift Watford attack.

Young turned brilliantly and gave the ball to Massey, he did magnificently well to turn his man and he ran at the back-tracking defence.

He slipped a ball through and Buckley's first time effort smashed the side netting.

Spence smashed a free kick at the Watford wall on 65 minutes after Thompson brought down a Wycombe attacker right on the edge of the penalty box.

On 70 minutes Stuart Green's well hit effort went behind for a corner kick following a deflection off a Watford defender in the busy penalty box.

The Hornets fell two behind on 75 minutes as striker Dan Fitchett bundled the ball over the line following a quick ball in from the right flank.

The ball got between Bond and a Watford defender and despite Bond's best efforts Fitchett moved quickly to finish the move off from a matter of yards out.

Mingoia made the 'keeper work on 78 minutes after a powerful run into the box finished with a ball back across - Arnold was on hand though to fingertip the ball away and the referee blew for a foul before too long.

Buckley was withdrawn from the action on 76 minutes and he was replaced by Connor Smith.

In the final few minutes Massey released Mingoia on goal with a lovely ball but Mingoia's initial touch took the ball away from him and Arnold was quick out of the blocks to gladly smother the ball in his hands.

Massey's low drive was saved in time added on as the Chairboys held on for a 2-0 victory over the Hornets.
 
WATFORD: Bond; Yiadom, Oshodi (Angus 34), Thompson, Travner; Young, Brooks, Penny (Isaac 66), Mingoia; Massey, Buckley (C Smith 76). Subs not used: Bonham (gk), Warburton.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Arnold, Hunt, Saku, Cox, Cobb (O'Regan); Ainsworth (Federico 71), Montrose, Bloomfield, Spence; Green (Harris 71), Fitchett. Subs not used: Brennan, Belcher. 

BOOKED: Bloomfield (professional foul 85).

SCORERS: Ainsworth (49), Fitchett (75).