WATFORD lost by a single goal to Portsmouth at London Colney on Saturday morning.

A lone strike in the first half was enough to take the points back to the south coast for Pompey and further frustrate the Hornets in the quest for their first victory of the season.

The visitors took the lead after half an hour when their free kick was charged down by the Golden Boys and fed straight back in to the penalty box. Paris Cowan-Hall stayed on-side, evaded the defence and calmly finished past Jonathan North in the Watford goal.

The Hornets had chances of their own though in the first period but were unable to finish them off. Wide man Billy Gibson was involved in a lot of the attacking moves and he and fellow winger Marvin Sordell had the freedom to switch flanks and when the two combined Sordell's shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Gibson also saw his free kick saved for a corner and trickle out wide - the Hornets were starting to force a number of corners but couldn't make them count. Then centre half Aaron Beech made his way into the penalty area for a Watford free kick and saw his shot from point blank range saved by Nick Jordan in the Pompey goal.

From the resulting corner Liam Henderson saw his looping header again saved by the goalkeeper.

Watford continued to try and press for an equaliser in the second half, Loren Maxwell was the first to try his luck but he headed over from Gibson's corner. Portsmouth had chances of their own too with North saving on the line after a corner somehow made its way through the crowded area and Jordan Hughes tried to poke home from a matter of yards out.

North was again called into action as Portsmouth regained their stranglehold on the game. Matthew Ritchie's free kick was headed goal wards by Joseph Ostler but North was equal to what Pompey threw at him. Matthew Ritchie was an influential figure for Portsmouth in the heart of their midfield and his effort from outside the box shaved the post towards the end of the game.

The Hornets were throwing everything forward at the end for an equaliser but Portsmouth stood strong and they had a chance to extend their lead as the youngsters committed men forward. Louie Castles had the final chance of the game but put this shot wide of the post.

The Academy are next in action on Saturday (15 September) at home to Arsenal.  

WATFORD (4-4-2): North; Jenkins, Brown, Beech, Bennett; Kiernan, Sordell, Forbes (Hodson 78); Henderson, Maxwell (Whichelow 70), Gibson. Subs not used: Oshodi, Osusu.

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): Jordan, Udoji, Blackman, Ostler, Reynolds, Van DeKorput, Castles, Ritchie, Cowan-Hall (Price), Pack, Hughes (Collins). Subs not used: Smith, Govas, Ryan

Scorer: Cowan-Hall.

SHOW YOUR COLOURS!