WATFORD'S reserve team are champions of their league and were the champions again tonight (Monday), as they finished off their brilliant home run over the last month in their final game at Boreham Wood of the season.

A hat-trick from the in-form Liam Henderson and goals from the impressive Piero Mingoia and youngster Adam Fenwick secured a sixth consecutive win on home soil for the Hornets.

First Team Coach David Kerslake named several reserve regulars in his team including many of the same players who turned out in Thursday evening's win over Luton Town.

After stints in the Hornets' first team, Scottish youngster Stephen McGinn moved into midfield alongside Mingoia and Michael Bryan for the second string.

Trialist Britt Assombalonga was on the substitutes' bench once more.

As the warm evening sun beat down on the pitch at Boreham Wood FC, the Watford reserves aimed to impress as their successful season draws to a close and contract talks loom.

The weather was more suited to a game of cricket rather than a football match as the late sun bore down on the pitch in an uncharacteristic manner for the time of the year.

After making the bench on Saturday for the first team, the quick-footed Mingoia was soon running forwards for the home side alongside Jure Travner on the left.

However it was the U's who had the first chance on target of the game with ten minutes gone, as Jordan Lartey was unlucky to miss hit a strike which in the end proved no trouble for Watford 'keeper Jonathan North.

A minute later, Mingoia crossed a beautiful ball ready for Henderson to pick up in the penalty area, but the striker didn't get to the ball in time and the chance went astray.

Winger Michael Bryan set up a great goal for Henderson moments later on 13 minutes as he characteristically weaved and danced through the Colchester defence to slot the cross in for the tall striker to meet.

With 22 minutes of the encounter gone, Slovenian Travner made a fantastic run through the centre of the field, past many a Colchester defender but was stopped in his tracks by a foul, allowing Watford to benefit from a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area. Although Bryan's set piece was confident and curling, the shot was just too wide for the goalmouth and the shot went out for a goalkick.

Just over ten minutes later, McGinn had an identical shot from the same spot, the young Scotsman's effort a curling one too, but as with his teammate's effort before him, the shot went wide of Mark Cousin's goal.

On 39 minutes, Bryan was brought down on right of the field at the 25 yard mark. Mingoia stepped up to take the shot, but his effort was slightly too low to meet Henderson's head and the Hornets' chance to go two goals ahead in the match was missed.

Watford were gifted a goal with three minutes to go until half time, when Mingoia smashed a shot at the goal from the nearside of the left post. His shot was heading for the inside of the post but Colchester's defender Alan Maybury helped the ball on it's way as he tried to clear the ball but ended up helping the ball into the corner of the net for the Hornets instead.

The U's got their own back as Samuel Corcoran caught North off guard in goal, the young stopper coming out from his line to retrieve the ball, but the Colchester man got there first and placed the ball past North and into the back of the net to get one back for the away team.

The home side had looked in control for the majority of the match, with the first team and extensive reserve experience shining through against a young Essex side.

But the U's came out fighting in the second period, determined to build on their late first half goal and make up for the defensive error that left them trailing a goal behind the Hornets.

On 53 minutes, Bryan executed a beautiful run through the middle of the park to chip a shot goalwards from just inside the box, but somehow the dipping shot didn't fall before the bar and the impressive youngster stayed off the scoresheet as the ball was tipped over the crossbar.

Colchester missed a sitter of a chance as they looked increasingly dangerous in the Watford half of the field, Simon Hackney crossing a ball straight in front of North's unmanned goal, but no United players managed to connect with the ball in time before it slipped out of reach for a goal kick.

Andy Yiadom did well as the game approached the hour mark and he won the ball inside the Colchester half. The Academy youngster fed the ball to Bryan who was waiting in a perfect position in the right of the box but his cross ricocheted off a Colchester player and the well-set up chance went to waste for the 'Orns.

On 64 minutes, Henderson tried his hand at a close range volley as the ball floated in towards him, his shot looking promising as the U's 'keeper was caught off guard in his area, occupying the opposite side of the goal. But Cousins stretched and leaped to the ball, getting his finger-tips to the Watford striker's shot and saving

Bryan crossed a perfect ball to Henderson in the 67th minute as Watford continued the pressure, Henderson connecting well with the ball to send it home for the Golden Boys and clock up his second goal of the night.

Kerslake rang the changes in the 73rd minute, bringing on Billy Gibson, Fenwick and Gavin Massey to replace Mingoia, Eddie Oshodi and Marvin Sordell respectively.

Gibson made an early impression after entering the fold, crossing the ball on the right set up Watford's fourth goal of the evening in the 79th minute, his dipping ball meeting the head of fellow substitute Fenwick deep in the penalty area. The Watford player easily put the ball past Cousins and into the back of the net for the Golden Boys.

The visitors conceded a penalty after a tackle in the area in the 89th minute, Henderson securing his hat-trick for the evening when he easily slotted the prize past Cousins.

Colchester's Simon Hackney scored a consolation goal in stoppage time for the U's as he looped a ball past North in the Watford goal, but the Golden Boys returned to the dressing room with the comfortable victory.

WATFORD: North; Yiadom, Travner, Oshodi (Fenwick 73), Thompson; Bryan, Brooks, McGinn, Mingoia (Gibson 73); Henderson, Sordell (Massey 73). Subs not used: Bond (gk), Assombalonga.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Cousins; Maybury, Beevers (Hamilton 45), Heath, Fox, Bender, Corcoran, Hackney, Lartey (Sanderson 51), Pavett, Malton. Subs not used: Arnott, Dickey (gk), Ajim.

GOALS: WATFORD; Henderson (13, 67, 89 pen) Mingoia (42), Fenwick (79), COLCHESTER UNITED; Corcoran (45+2), Hackney (90+4).