Watford Under-21s conceded with virtually the last kick of the game to fall to a 1-0 defeat to Hull City at Vicarage Road.

Sincere Hall fired into the roof of the net at the second attempt deep into stoppage time to give the visitors all three points in a game the Hornets had the better of for long periods.

Amin Nabizada went closest for Watford on his first start at this level, but couldn’t capitalise when a weak defensive pass played him through one-on-one late in the second half.

Playing at Vicarage Road for the second time in a week, the Hornets started strongly. Nabizada fired an early chance over the bar, whilst Laken Torres did well to meet Albert Eames’ powerful cross at the near post but could only direct his header wide.

Hull City did grow into the game and created some opportunities of their own, with Bora Aydinlik’s shot sailing over, and Hall dragging an effort wide of the post. At the other end, Eames found Zavier Massiah-Edwards unmarked in the box, but the winger's header was too high.

Aydinlik went close again after winning the ball on the halfway line and driving towards goal, but his shot was wide. The American then made another dangerous run into the box, squaring to Tyrell Sellars-Fleming with the goal at his mercy, but a heroic diving header from Josh Mullins somehow diverted the ball over the bar.

The Hornets looked to take advantage of this let-off, but neither Luigi Gaspar nor Zak Fraser-Grante could trouble keeper Owen Foster from good shooting positions. Rocco Coyle then couldn’t keep his free-kick down from outside the box as a breathless, but goalless, first half came to an end.

Nabizada looked dangerous throughout and had the first chance of the second half by firing a low, driven effort towards goal, but Foster had no problem claiming soon after the restart.

The forward, who was called up to a training camp with the senior Afghanistan national side during the last international break, then turned provider by finding Massiah-Edwards in space in the area, but the 17-year-old’s effort was straight at the keeper.

Fraser-Grante then went close just after the hour mark, connecting well with a free-kick, but his header sailed over the bar as the game remained goalless. Chances were few and far between, with James Clarridge doing excellently to put his body on the line to block a driven effort from Sellars-Fleming.

Nabizada had the chance to make it a perfect first start when a poor defensive pass fell straight into his feet on the edge of the box. He only had the keeper to beat, but Foster did enough to block the shot with his feet.

The Hornets kept knocking on the door in the latter stages but it was the Tigers who snatched all three points at the death. A long ball into the box found Hall, who had his first effort blocked before firing in at the second attempt from a tight angle to condemn Watford to defeat in the cruelest of fashions.