The Hornets' Under-18s side suffered their first defeat in six matches as they were beaten 3-2 by MK Dons in Merit League One on Saturday.

Watford, who had several of the club’s Under-16 players in the side, started brightly and broke the deadlock in the ninth minute. Mahlondo Martin was put through on goal and he remained calm to slot his shot into the net.

The Golden Boys created further chances to add to their lead. The prolific Michael Folivi struck the post before he then had another effort cleared off the line after rounding the Dons’ goalkeeper Tom Wyant. 

Watford gloveman Nathan Gartside was forced into action shortly before the interval and he tipped a well struck shot around the post.

In the second period, the Hornets were inches away from adding to their lead. Wyant acrobatically tipped Folivi’s long shot onto the angle before Brandon Mason’s strike rattled the crossbar.

They proved costly misses for the home side as the Dons netted three times in closing 20 minutes to open up a strong lead.

Folivi did pull a goal back in second half stoppage time but it was no more than a consolation for the young Hornets.

Watford Under-18s: Gartside; Rogers, Rowan, Young; Eleftheriou, Cook, Ryan, Makaka, Mason (Denilson 80); Martin, Folivi.