Watford’s Under-23 side scored four and dominated the game against Crewe Alexandra as Kane Crichlow, Shaq Forde and a trialist got on the scoresheet in a game that took place at Vicarage Road.
The match was attended by the likes of Academy Director Richard Johnson and Under-18 Coach Tom Hart and Watford started the game well. They held on to possession and used Maurizio Pochettino as an outlet, with the winger delivering two dangerous balls across the six-yard line to no avail.
Against the run of play, however, Crewe found the breakthrough courtesy of Max Woodcock, who was found in behind the Hornets' defence and finished into the roof of the net.
Watford responded to the setback almost immediately as the trialist found the back of the net with a powerful header from a corner.
Now in the ascendancy, Watford took advantage of their pressure to take the lead only a few minutes later with the trialist on the scoresheet once more.
In the build-up, Crichlow produced an excellent piece of skill, running past multiple defenders, eventually laying the ball off to Ryan Andrews who delivered a driven ball into the middle that the trialist tapped home, taking a deflection on its way in.
Watford ended the first half in full control of the game as Forde, who scored twice last time out against Sheffield Wednesday, made it three to the hosts as his shot deflected over the Crewe keeper and into the net.
Watford’s second half was a much more controlled affair, with less end-to-end action. Although, captain Andi Janjeva missed a good chance to put the game out of reach early on after James Morris delivered an accurate free-kick, but the skipper couldn’t head in at the far post.
The best goal of the game was the last as Crichlow rounded off a fantastic performance in style. He volleyed the ball into the top corner from just inside the box after substitute JJ McKiernan picked out the striker, extending Watford’s lead to three.
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