Dom Hutchinson took his tally for the season into double figures with a brace but it was an injury-time winner from Under-16 Enoch Muwonge that enabled table-toppping Watford Under-18s to edge out Cardiff City 3-2 on Saturday.

The game looked destined to end in a draw after captain Hutchinson had netted twice to move on to 10 goals for the campaign, but the Hornets snatched the win at the death when Muwonge touched home a Sonny Blu Lo-Everton corner.

Munwonge was one of three Under-16 players to play for Simon Clark’s youthful side and he told the club website: “I’m super, super pleased with the result, a really young side, three Under-16s starting, five players due to injuries and illness playing out of position, it’s such a good result for the club.”

After falling behind against the run of play on the half-hour, the hosts levelled five minutes later when Hutchinson fired into the top corner.

Hutchinson looked like he had secured the points for Watford when he curled home his second after the break, only for the Bluebirds to level in the last minute of normal time through an unmarked back post header.

The Hornets were not to be denied though, and four minutes into stoppage time Muwonge got a decisive glance on Lo-Everton’s corner delivery.

The win means Watford remain top of the Under-18 Professional Development League, three points clear of Charlton Athletic, who have a game in hand.

Watford Under-18s: Baptiste, Harrison, Evans, Lo-Everton, Conteh, Maclean, McKiernan, Hunter (Jackson 78), Thompson (Muwonge 78), Hutchinson, Manning. Subs not used: Marriott, Pradham, Vazagkasvili