Leverstock Green put up a terrific effort against a talented Watford academy side, but couldn’t find the net and went out of the Herts Senior Cup at the second round stage to a single goal.

The injuries continue to pile up for the Green squad, with Alex Condon now out for some time with an ankle injury sustained at work, and Brima Johnson missing from this game with a toe injury. On the plus side Luke Nugent returned from suspension, and there was a welcome return between the sticks for Caolan Doyle-Creamer, who was very impressive in a spell at the club last season while still only 16 years old.

There was a good chance for Leverstock in the opening minute of the match, with Alex Yearwood sending over a low cross which was only half-cleared to Sam Nair, who shot wide. In the 13th minute Luke Preedy hit a shot from the edge of the box which Watford keeper Adam Parkes could only parry away, but no-one was following in for the rebound.

Doyle-Creamer was brought into action for the first time in the 18th minute, tipping a shot from Jayden Bennetts over the bar. Five minutes later the Green keeper produced an even better save to keep out a shot from point-blank range after Watford had broken away quickly. A minute later at the other end a pass from Jordon Goode gave Yearwood a chance to shoot. Yearwood’s shot took a deflection and was parried away by Parkes, and a defender got to the rebound before Salim Sahnoun could get there.

In the 27th minute Ryan Cassidy had Watford’s best chance so far as he was clean through, but hit his shot across goal and wide. Three minutes later there was some great play down the right from Kane O’Neil before putting in a cross that just eluded Reynaldo Carbon. In the 34th minute Leverstock felt they had a claim for a penalty when Sahnoun went down in the box, but the referee waved it away. Five minutes later Watford went close again with a looping header from a corner which was bound for the net before O’Neil intervened to head it off the line.

After a very entertaining first half the game was still goalless, but three minutes into the second half Watford took the lead when Dominic Hutchinson went on a run and hit a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net. The second half saw fewer chances than the first, but Leverstock were never out of the game. On 67 minutes Preedy got on the end of a cross from Sam Nair, but couldn’t keep his header under the bar. In the 82nd minute a great pass from Preedy put Yearwood in behind the Watford defence, but as Yearwood headed into the box a defender got back to deny him the opportunity of a clear shot. In stoppage time an effort from Lewis Collins was blocked during a goalmouth scramble.

It was a good performance from the Leverstock side against a team that were quick, sharp and skilful, and should hopefully put some confidence back into the squad for this coming Saturday’s league match away to Stotfold.