A group of eight Watford FC fans will have an additional reason for hoping the Hornets beat Luton Town next weekend after they were edged out by eight Hatters supporters in a golf match.

Watford are due to face their M1 rivals for the first time in 14 years on Saturday, September 26 at Vicarage Road – but it was Luton who claimed the spoils in the first sporting meeting between the two sets of fans this season.

The match was the idea of Hornets fan Andy Long after he got to know a Luton supporter and fellow golfer through an online fan site.

The Watford team of Andy, Danny Bagley, Kevin Fox, Harry Higgins, Gary Lapthorne, Brian Marriott, Paul Robbins and Ging Tankard took on eight Luton fans at Whispnade Park Golf Club last Friday, but it was the Hatters who narrowly prevailed on the 18th hole in the matchplay event.

Season-ticket holder Andy, who lives in Nottinghamshire and has been a fan for 54 years, said: “The Luton boys were really welcoming, we had a little bit of banter as you do but it was all good hearted.

“We had the first leg at Whipsnade and we’re in the throes of trying to arrange another one back in our area somewhere.

“We’re going to try and do it a couple of times a year, a home and away sort of thing - one in Bedfordshire, one in Hertfordshire.”