Watford’s Under-21 side secured their first win of their Professional Development League 2 South campaign this afternoon as an 82nd minute George Byers goal clinched a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Harry Kewell included three full internationals in his defence with Jamaica’s Lloyd Doyley, who is continuing his recovery from neck surgery, at right back and Uruguay’s Miguel Britos and Algeria’s Essaid Belkalem in the heart of the back four. 

The game was goalless at the interval but it was the Golden Boys who had come closest to breaking the deadlock when Byers curled a shot towards goal that struck the crossbar.

The midfielder, who has made one appearance for the Hornets' first-team, was again heavily involved in the second period.

He perhaps should have opened the scoring in the 70th minute when he met a Dennon Lewis cross six yards out.

However, the former Scottish youth international was unable to keep his acrobatic volley down the ball narrowly cleared the crossbar.

But four minutes later Watford made the breakthrough. The ball dropped to striker Bernard Mensah, who spent time on loan at Barnet last season, and he thumped a shot past Forest goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov and into the net.

The visitors’ advantage at the City Ground didn’t last long, however, as Gerry McDonagh prodded the ball over the line following a scramble in the Hornets penalty area.

But Watford reacted well to the equaliser and, with eight minutes remaining, Byers unleashed a 30-yard shot which found the top corner and sealed the side’s first win at their eighth attempt.

Watford: Trialist; Doyley (Young, 73), Belkalem, Britos, Doherty; Stewart, Byers (c), Charles (Folivi, 72); Jakubiak, Mensah, Lewis.

Unused substitutes: Johnson, Trialist.