Wycombe Wanderers FA Youth Cup dream ends after 3-0 defeat to Watford (From Bucks Free Press)

Wycombe Wanderers FA Youth Cup dream ends after 3-0 defeat to Watford

9:01pm Wednesday 2nd December 2009

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Wycombe Wanderers youngsters crashed out of the FA Youth Cup at the third round following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of neighbours Watford.

Both sides had a host of chances in the first half but lacked the composure to apply the finish as the score was level at the break.

But Watford were clinical in the second 45 and went three up within half an hour of the restart through captain Eddie Oshodi and a double from Matty Whichelow.

Watford started well and were moving the ball around slickly and it didn't take long before Piero Mingoia stung the hands of the keeper with a 20-yard strike after cutting in from the right.

Wycombe's first opportunity came when they broke quickly from a Watford corner and Matthew McClure picked out Sam Belcher in the middle but the midfielder's shot was sliced well wide.

A horrendous mistake from Watford keeper Jonathan Bond left McClure with a golden opportunity to score with Bond off his line but the striker's effort was tame and easily saved.

It was an open game but Watford just edged it in the opening stages and Kurtney Brooks went close with a shot which went wide.

The Hornets were getting caught on the break though and again McClure should have finished when he was put through by Sam Grayley, however, with just the keeper to beat, he overran the ball and it went out for a goal kick.

Jerome Federico's pace on the right of Wanderers midfield was causing huge problems and twice in quick succession he provided crosses for Kadeem Harris and then McClure but neither were able to apply the finish.

Midway through the half both team's keepers produced saves Scott Loach and Scott Shearer would have been proud of.

First Ingram palmed a Fabrice Otshudi header, which was heading for the top corner, away and then Jonathan Bond somehow tipped a Belcher header on to the bar.

The dangerous Federico forced Bond into another save moments later.

A moment of class from Mingoia almost opened the scoring on 27 minutes but his 25-yard shot curled narrowly wide.

It seemed not a minute would go by before the next opportunity and after Harris had an attempt blocked for Wycombe, Gavin Massey curled a left-footed shot over the bar from distance.

The slick passing moves had been replaced by frantic end-to-end chances but a neat turn and through ball by Whichelow left Otshudi with the chance to score, only for him tofire his shot wide of the near post.

Whichelow himself had a golden opportunity in the following minute when he controlled a long ball and rounded the keeper but his effort lacked pace and was cleared.

Watford were then almost punished when they tried to play the offside trap and Federico was through one-on-one but he lacked the composure and smashed his effort over the bar.

Federico continued to cause problems and put McClure in just before the break but again, Bond was equal to it.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock in the first half but it took Watford captain Eddie Oshodi less than five minutes after the restart to open the scoring.

Mingoia delivered a corner in to the six yard box and Oshodi rose highest to nod past Ingram.

The chance were less frequent in the second period and the next real chance led to Watford's second.

Whichelow was fed the ball on the edge of the area and the forward manoeuvred space to fire a low drive past the diving Ingram.

The Hornets were much more clinical in the second half and their third real chance of the half resulted in their third goal on 72 minutes.

Massey weighted his pass perfectly for Whichelow to race through and power his strike into the roof of the net to make sure of the win.

Wycombe tried to fightback and had two shots from distance go wide in a matter of minutes.

Mingoia attempted to add to his side's lead with ten minutes to go but his free kick was struck straight into the wall.

Whichelow had a chance to complete his hat-trick in the final minute when he was put through one-on-one but his shot was well saved by Ingam.

And when Whichelow unselfishly squared for Massey in injury time, Ingam again pulled off a fine save with his feet.

Watford: Bond; Yiadom, Fenwick, Oshodi, Angus (Thompson 83); Massey, Brooks, Penny (Warburton 60), Mingoia; Whichelow, Otshudi (Murray 54).

Subs: Irving, Hemati.

Wycombe: Ingram; Grayley, Stewart, Saku, O'Regan; Federico, Belcher, Scowen (Weemes 88), Harris; Wallace (Paladino 82), McClure.

Subs: Raphel, Kewley-Graham, Ware.

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