For the third year in succession, Watford’s Under-18s fell at the first hurdle in the FA Youth Cup as a limp performance against a talented Norwich City side saw them thrashed 5-1 at Vicarage Road.

Any inspiration that could be gained from playing at the Hornets’ home ground was soon extinguished once the Canaries took an early stranglehold on the game, despite rarely getting out of second gear themselves, and in truth they settled the tie in six clinical first-half minutes.

The visitors were assured in possession and compact out of it, and took a deserved lead through a finish any striker would be proud of from captain and centre-half Owen Wallis midway through the opening period.

Within two minutes, Bernard Ashley-Seal had doubled Norwich’s advantage from the penalty spot, and another four later Wallis completed a brace up to all but seal victory inside half an hour.

Late goals from substitutes Anthony Spyrou and Devonte Aransibia put the gloss on a confident performance from the visitors, before Marian Huja’s injury-time free kick provided something for the home fans to cheer.

In front of an array of watching agents and recognisable faces from the footballing world, including Micky Adams and David Pleat, neither side really got going in a cagey opening 10 minutes before Norwich fired a first warning shot.

The lively Glenn Middleton found space in behind the right of the Watford defence and swung a cross in low towards Ashley-Seale, but the gangly striker’s shot ended up diverting the ball away from goal.

On a bitterly cold night in Hertfordshire, the gloves of Andrew Thomas in the Watford goal were kept warm throughout but after saving well from Wallis and Middleton, he could do little about the visiting skipper’s 22nd-minute opener.

A set piece from the Norwich right was only half cleared by Louis Rogers, and Wallis struck a fine volley into the far corner from just inside the box to give them the lead.

The goal had been coming, but there had been little hint of the floodgates which would soon burst open.

Minutes later a poor challenge from Huja dragged Middleton to the floor, before Ashley-Seal struck the resulting penalty high to Thomas’ right.

And the game was ended as a contest soon after, when a Kamal corner was headed goalwards by Wallis following a scramble. Whether he got the final touch he may not even know, but he was happy to claim his second of the day.

The Hornets finally began to rally, although they could produce little of note before the break. Ashley Charles and Josh Roe both had decent-looking efforts blocked inside the box by Willis in quick succession, but Norwich had already taken their foot off the pedal.

Charles should have given the Hornets a glimmer of hope when a free-kick from the left found him unmarked; but with the opportunity to curl a header around visiting goalkeeper Fergal Hale-Brown into the far corner, he unselfishly attempted a lay-off for Treon Johnson and saw the ball cleared.

The second half was, unsurprisingly, somewhat of a non-event, but a re-invigorated and re-shaped Watford looked more of a match for their visitors after changing to a 4-2-3-1 at the break.

Huja saw his header from a corner held by Hale-Brown and Reece Stray put another aerial effort just beyond the post, as the Hornets looked more intent-filled than they had before half-time without looking like eating into Norwich’s lead.

The Golden Boys tired against their Category One visitors and a sloppy fourth with 10 minutes remaining was harsh on their overall performance.

Anthony Spyrou danced beyond a couple of challenges – including one rash effort from Bradley Empsom, which could easily have led to a penalty – before slotting calmly beyond Thomas.

A fifth followed almost instantly when Max Aarons beat Lewis Gordon on the Watford left, and amid some static defending picked out Devonte Aransibia, whose swing at the ball ended with it striking the post before edging over the line.

There was still time for something to smile about for the 550 hardy Watford fans in the Graham Taylor Stand even after Charles had hit the bar from 25 yards in the dying minutes, as Huja’s injury-time free kick deflected off the wall and beyond Hale-Brown for a consolation.

It was almost the final kick of the game as Norwich progressed in style to the fourth round, and Watford’s wait for an FA Youth Cup win was extended until at least 2017.

Watford Under-18s: Thomas; Sesay, Ryan, Huja, Gordon; Charles, Roe (Kaikay 59); Johnson (Adedeji 59), Stray (Empson 70), Pereira; Ryan.

Not used: Lacy, Jones.