Two second-half goals make it three straight league wins for Under-21s
Two well-taken opportunistic finishes from Ignacio Garcia-Romero Ferrer saw Watford Under-21s beat Ipswich 2-0 at London Colney to make it three straight wins in the Premier League Development League South.
There was very little between the two sides, with the visitors shading the first half but Watford posing more threats after the interval.
Garcia-Romero Ferrer gave an enterprising and hard-working display on the flank and earned his two goals, although he was indebted to Zavier Massiah-Edwards who assisted both and did a sterling job of leading the line against two central defenders that had a significant physical advantage.
At the back Raul Vancea gave another accomplished display, a young player who was giving age away to most of his opponents yet looked comfortable and confident.
The win lifted the Hornets over the Tractor Boys in the league table, and they now sit sixth – three points behind Bournemouth but with a game in hand.
Watford are next in action on February 4 when they travel to Ipswich for a Premier League Cup tie, still in with a chance of progressing from the group stage.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
1 - Ortelli did well to get back and palm away an attempted lob.
7 – Morgan was played into the box, Ortelli came off his line quickly to smother.
28 - Mullins showed strength and determination to win ball in centre circle and then slid the ball let to Keyes, who cut in and curled a shot which Ipswich keeper Binns held.
37 - Heard played Mendel into the box, Ortelli came out to narrow the angle quickly and tipped the shot wide.
38 – Roberts clever chip from just outside box beat Ortelli but hit the bar, Morgan’s follow-up header was held by the keeper.
45 - Roberts turned 20 yards out and sent a curling effort wide of back post.
Half-time – Watford 0 Ipswich 0
53 – Davis got away down the left and his cross shot from a tight angle deflected across the face of goal.
55 – Massiah-Edwards drove at heart of the defence but his shot from the edge of the box was straight at Binns.
60 – Watford 1 (Garcia-Romero Ferrer) Ipswich 0
Massiah-Edwards chased down a long ball into box, did well to get there first and struck an early shot that Binns parried. The ball ran loose and Garcia-Romero Ferrer strode onto it and planted it in the empty net.
65 - Mendel moved inside with options to pass but shot instead and Ortelli held.
68 - Davis curled a free kick from 25 yards which clipped the outside of the post.
70 – Watford 2 (Garcia-Romero Ferrer) Ipswich 0
Massiah-Edwards got into the box on right, looked up and passed into path of Garcia-Romero Ferrer, who took a touch and drilled his shot inside the upright.
82 – A rising drive from Babb was comfortably grasped by Ortelli.
87 – Ramirez-Espain chipped a pass over the Ipswich back line, Garcia-Romero Ferrer won a foot race with Frith, just got to the ball first but his lob over Binns bounced wide.
Full-time – Watford 2 Ipswich 0
Watford: Ortelli; Eames, Vancea, Ramirez-Espain, Clarridge (Moulton ht), Mullins, (Georgiou ht) Garcia-Romero Ferrer, Sanghrajka, Massiah-Edwards, Coyne (Riza 51), Keyes (Stephenson 59). Unused sub: Morris
