Watford Under-18s extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a thumping 4-0 win at Bristol City on Tuesday.

Michael Folivi’s double and goals from Jacob Cook and Ogo Obi kept the in-form Hornets in contention for the Professional Development League South title as they kept their eighth consecutive clean sheet and closed the gap on leaders Charlton Athletic to just two points.

The young Golden Boys were in total command from the moment they took an eighth-minute lead through the lively Folivi, who fired home after good work from Obi and Dion Pereira.

That advantage was doubled on the quarter-of-an-hour mark as Folivi snatched his second, robbing a defender of possession, as City tried to play their way out from the back.

And it was effectively job done before half-time as Watford stretched their lead even further with midfielder Cook seizing on a long ball before muscling off two defenders to fire home from just inside the box.

The visitors did not rest on their laurels though, and Obi made it 4-0 on 58 minutes when he fastened onto a loose ball after Folivi was tackled inside the area.

With the job done, Obi was later replaced by a trialist, as the Hornets comfortably saw out the game.

Coach David Horseman told the club website: “We were never really under any danger. It was more a case of how many we were going to score.”

And he admits that with his side being on such a hot streak and having games in hand on Charlton it is inevitable that thoughts are turning to winning the title.

He said: “We have never talked to them about the title, but I know they do.

“We won’t mention it, but we do go into a lot of detail after each game in terms of how we can improve. That’s all we focus on.

“But the fact is we’re on for the league, and definitely the top-two. It would be brilliant and it’s huge in their development because you have to challenge at the top of leagues.”

Watford: Thomas; Ovenden, Ryan, Stevens (Johnson, 57); Eleftheriou, Cook, Roe, Pereira; Makaka, Folivi; Obi (trialist, 63). Subs not used: Lacey.