WATFORD under 18s went down to a 3-1 defeat at the weekend as they suffered the sucker-punch of conceding two late goals.

A strong, physical Leicester City side overpowered the young Hornets but the Academy didn't go down without a fight and more than matched their opponents in the first half.

The Foxes opened the scoring on 32 minutes when Robbie Burns' deflected shot fired past Jonathan North. Watford didn't give up and came back strong and within ten minutes of the restart they were level.

Kieron Forbes once again partnered Liam Henderson in attack and the midfielder-cum-attacker grabbed his fourth of the season.

The Golden Boys had a number of set pieces but couldn't find a breakthrough and wide man Billy Gibson was sending some great balls into the box.

However the Foxes finished the game strongly and brought on powerful striker Ricky Sappleton who was a handful. Their second was a free kick from Ashley Chambers and Sappleton added the third with four minutes remaining.

In other Academy news full back Louis Lavers has signed a scholarship with the club after impressing during a recent trial with the Hornets.

The Academy are next in action this Saturday (3rd November) against MK Dons, kick off is at 10.30am at London Colney.

WATFORD (4-4-2): North; Hodson, Lavers (L Brown 79), Bennett (c), Oshodi; Jenkins, Bryan, Kiernan, Gibson; Henderson, Forbes. Subs not used: Sordell, Bond, Clements, Penny

Scorers: Forbes (55)

LEICESTER CITY (4-4-2): Cisak; Cox, Cobb, Garner, Turner; Howard (John-Joe), McKay, King (Sappleton), Burns; Chambers (c), Kee (Tuttle)

Scorers: Burns (32), Chambers (84), Sappleton (86)

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