Watford’s 2023/24 FA Youth Cup journey ended at the first hurdle despite a spirited performance at Vicarage Road, with three-time champions Manchester City earning a 2-0 win to secure passage to the fourth round.

Tom Cleverley’s charges found themselves on the back foot by the 16th minute when a Matty Warhurst effort nestled into the net via Josh Mullins’ leg, and though they worked themselves back into the contest during the first half they struggled to regularly test True Grant in goal.

Jaden Heskey’s well-taken finish made it 2-0 to the away side shortly after the interval, steepening the Young Hornets’ task, and there were chances at both ends in the remainder of the match before Mullins was shown a red card moments before the end.

City dominated possession from the off, though besides a low Emilio Lawrence cross - that evaded everyone in the box - and a well-defended corner, the hosts were largely untroubled at the back during the opening 10 minutes.

Further set-pieces either side of a deflected Warhurst shot were similarly dealt with comfortably by Gabriel Ortelli and the rest of the Watford backline, but they were almost caught out close to the quarter-of-an-hour mark when Lakyle Samuel just couldn’t connect with a Charlie Gray cross at full stretch.

The pressure did eventually tell however, when a Warhurst strike at point-blank range ricocheted off captain Mullins and past Ortelli to put City in front 1-0.

Despite the setback the Young Hornets went in search of an immediate response, only for Prince Sikiru’s long-range attempt to fly off target, and then back at the other end Ortelli had to be alert to hold an angled Lawrence drive.

The next 10 minutes saw the Golden Boys gradually gain a foothold in the game, with Albert Eames, Amar Sanghrajka and Amin Nabizada all looking bright with the ball, yet clear-cut chances continued to prove hard to come by.

The visitors had the ball in the net for a second time in the 32nd minute - though they were subsequently penalised for a foul on Ortelli - and after a Nabizada free-kick came to nothing deep in added time, referee Samuel Everitt brought the first 45 to a close.

Watford’s hopes were dealt a blow less than three minutes into the second half, when Heskey - son of former England striker Emile - coolly slotted the ball past Ortelli inside the box to make it 2-0.

Another Nabizada corner fashioned a half-chance for Sanghrajka in the 53rd minute - with the 17-year-old’s shot being calmly collected by goalkeeper Grant - and having weathered that storm City almost grabbed a third when Lawrence struck against the post.

Ben Wilkinson’s side continued to press and Ortelli had to react well to deny Divine Mukasa before Ben Casey came up with a crucial block, but with the match opening up Sikiru saw a shot saved and then Sanghrajka skewed an attempt wide.

The introduction of Zavier Massiah-Edwards and Kash Odiase from the bench seemed to re-energise the home attack, but it was away sub Christian Dunbar-McDonald who came close to making it 3-0 with five minutes left when his shot across goal flied just past the post.

Watford were forced to finish the game with 10 men after Mullins was shown a second yellow card close to the death, and despite battling throughout four minutes of added time their fate was sealed with ref Everitt’s final whistle.