A Packed Week of (mostly) Enjoyable Football

15/04/2025 07:06

On Thursday evening, the U18s hosted Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. The visitors were the holders and the favourites, having scored 5 goals in the fourth round and 6 in the fifth and the quarter finals. It looked as though they would achieve a similar tally in this match when they scored in the third minute, but the young Hornets soon got back into the game and gave a very good account of themselves. Keeper, Morris, was the man of the match as he stopped everything that came his way for the rest of the evening, but the Hornets also created some decent chances of their own with the pick being a run by Smith around the back of the defence where he found Okosun whose shot hit the side-netting. It was a real team performance. The youngsters have been a lot of fun to watch in their run to the semi-final and I am sure that we have seen some stars of the future. I was also pleased that the club made the night special. A programme was printed, the players came out with mascots, the big screen was on and there was constant encouragement from Rich Walker to the crowd of 4,121 to show their support for the lads and they certainly made some noise.

Friday afternoon the U21s played Peterborough. The visitors completely dominated the first half and took a deserved two goal lead, but the Hornets could have secured a draw after they were awarded two penalties. The first, taken by Keyes, was saved, but Gaspar scored the second to give the Watford fans in attendance something to cheer.

It was a nice leisurely start on Saturday as my train didn't leave Euston until 10.40, so I had plenty of time for breakfast before I left. The journey to Birmingham was uneventful and I was soon in the pre-match pub where Jane and Serena had already arrived. We had a lovely lunch and then headed to Snow Hill to get the train to The Hawthorns. At the station we met a lovely Villa fan, who is thoroughly enjoying their success this season. On arrival, we climbed the hill to the ground (it never gets easier) and were soon in our rather excellent seats.

Team news was that Cleverley had made just one change from the Hull game with Ince replacing Vata. So, the starting line-up was Selvik; Wiley, Abankwah, Pollock, Ngakia; Dele-Bashiru, Louza; Ince, Kayembe, Sissoko; Doumbia.

The home side started brightly and Selvik was in early action coming to claim a cross into the area. West Brom took the lead after 11 minutes as Fellows beat Dele-Bashiru before breaking down the right and playing a low cross for Grant who swept it into the bottom corner. It was a simple goal and a poor one to give away. The first chance for the Hornets came from a Louza free kick that Pollock headed goalwards, but it was easily gathered by the West Brom keeper, Griffiths. The next chance came after Ngakia won the ball in midfield and broke forward beating a couple of defenders before finding Louza whose shot was straight at Griffiths. The Hornets then launched another good break that finished with Dele-Bashiru meeting a cross with a mishit shot. The Hornets were having a good spell, and the next chance came as Dele-Bashiru played the ball out to Wiley whose cross was caught by Griffiths. The Hornets threatened again with a cross from Ince, but Doumbia nudged Griffiths as he tried to claim it and the referee awarded a free kick. The Hornets should have equalised when Ngakia found Kayembe who barged into the box with the goal at his mercy, but delayed his shot, and the Hornets had to settle for a corner. Next Louza played the ball out to Kayembe who shot into the ground and the ball flew wide of the target. At the other end Grant put in a low cross that flew wide of the far post.

The Hornets had another great chance to level as Louza found Kayembe whose powerful shot hit the post. The next chance for the Hornets came as a Louza corner was met by Abankwah, but his effort cleared the bar. The first bookings of the game went to Pollock for a foul and Lankshear for waving an imaginary card at the referee (good). The home side had a good chance to score a second goal from a free kick, Mowatt played it short to Price whose shot was turned around the post by Selvik. There was 3 minutes of added time during which Furlong was booked for complaining about the award of a corner to the Hornets. Louza's delivery reached Ince, but he couldn't finish, so the Hornets went into the break a goal down after a competitive half of football in which they had created some decent chances.

At half time, the participants in the Baggies' Bike Challenge were on the pitch. They had cycled from Watford to West Brom this week to raise money for the Baggies' foundation. They did a lap of honour, and I am pleased to say that when they reached the away end, they were greeted with a standing ovation.

The first attack of the second half came after a heavy touch by Sissoko gifted the ball to Grant who broke forward and was stopped by a great tackle by Abankwah. The first shot of the half was from Johnston whose effort was straight at Selvik. Johnston had another chance soon after when Mowatt found him on the edge of the area, but this time his shot flew well over the bar. West Brom had a great chance to score a second when Fellows beat Wiley and put in a cross that Selvik got a foot to, the ball bounced around the box before reaching Johnston who looked certain to score until Ngakia intervened to block the shot diverting it over the bar. At the other end, Ince played the ball out to Ngakia whose cross dropped for Kayembe, whose shot was blocked. Louza was then booked for a handball and was outraged, even though it appeared to be the correct decision. The hosts scored their second on the hour mark after a forward break, Fellows cut the ball back for Johnston who shot through a crowd of defenders and found the net. It was another frustratingly simple goal to concede. Cleverley made a double substitution at this point bringing Vata and Sierralta on in place of Ince and Abankwah. The next booking of the game went to Price for a rather robust tackle on Wiley. West Brom had a chance to increase their lead when Fellows broke forward and cut the ball back for Lankshear whose shot flew well wide of the far post.

The Hornets then threatened as Ngakia broke forward and put in a deep cross for Wiley whose shot was blocked. The resultant corner dropped for Vata whose shot flew well over the bar. The hosts then had a great chance as Fellows crossed for Lankshear, who only had Selvik to beat, but the Watford stopper came out to meet him and he poked his shot wide of the target. Then Price received a through ball and took a shot that Selvik did well to save, but the flag went up anyway. The hosts made a change at this point replacing Lankshear with Armstrong. The Hornets pulled a goal back on 76 minutes as Louza played a gorgeous defence-splitting pass for Sissoko who finished calmly past Griffiths. Cleverley made a double substitution before the restart bringing Bayo and Dwomoh on in place of Doumbia and Dele-Bashiru. The next booking went to Bartley for pulling Wiley back as he tried to escape down the wing. The Hornets had a decent chance to draw level when the ball was played to Vata on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked. West Brom had a great chance of a third after a forward break, Johnston played the ball to Grant whose shot was met by a terrific one-handed save from Selvik. The resultant corner was headed wide by Heggem. The home side made another substitution at this point bringing Diagana on in place of Johnston. The next chance for the Hornets came from a Vata long throw, the ball fell to Ngakia whose shot cleared the bar. The Hornets were pushing for an equaliser, and the ball was played along the edge of the box to Louza whose shot flew well over the bar. West Brom made a final substitution bringing Dike on in place of Fellows. There was five minutes of added time during which Grant broke forward but was brilliantly shepherded by Sierralta who held him off and won the goal kick. The Hornets had a couple of chances to salvage a point, first a shot from Kayembe that cleared the bar. Then Pollock met a cross from Ngakia with a header that was heading for the bottom corner until Griffiths got a hand to it, Wiley played the ball back in, but it was blocked before it reached Vata. So, the Hornets were defeated after giving up a couple of soft goals and some wasteful finishing.

It had been an enjoyable, competitive game. After the early goal, the Hornets had the better of the first half and were unlucky to go in a goal down. Heads seem to drop after the second goal, but they soon rallied and were fighting for a point right to the end of the game. Sissoko scored his second goal in a week, and it was another good effort. It was good to see Dwomoh return to competitive action as it gives us another option. This game certainly didn't have the end of season feel that characterised the Hull game. I hope that they continue to fight in the remaining games, so that we can have a positive end to the season, while avoiding a play-off place.

On Sunday, I was at Vicarage Road for my fifth match in a week, to watch the women take on Gwalia United. Before the game, Megan Chandler was awarded both the Player of the Season and the Players' Player of the Season awards. The game started slowly, but Ellie Head got on the end of a ball from Gale to open the scoring and take us into the break with a slender lead. The second half was all Watford. Perry scored twice and Fyfe added a fourth, although they never stopped working and could have had two or three more. The one downside of the afternoon was a horrible injury to Lachante Paul. I wish her well. The women have been fun to watch this season, and it was good to see another decent crowd at Vicarage Road. Now I have to find something else to entertain me as there isn't another game until Friday.