Steve Spooner

Blues Under 18's suffered a single goal defeat at the weekend after losing 1-0 at home to their Watford counterparts.

It was game in which Blues created chances, but once again failed to convert any of them.

Coach Steve Spooner was happy with side's first half showing, but he was extremely disappointed with their second half performance.

"I thought our first half performance was very good," said Spooner.

"We changed the side around again for this game and brought in a couple of new players including American triallist Will Packwood, who blended in well.

"We went in half time at 0-0 and I decided to try and tweak one or two things and change the shape of the team, but it was Watford who came out more stronger.

"They made a substitution which helped them when they replaced the left back.

"The first one was getting a bit of hard time in the first half so that nullified our attacking force.

"After that the second half was basically a non-event for us and we never really got started and we looked less cohesive.

Jamie Sheldon

"I brought Aaron Moses-Garvey on and he created a few chances but we just couldn't get on the end of them or finish them off.

"Watford had several good chances themselves and I was just waiting for them to score and sure enough the goal eventually arrived in the 78th minute.

"It followed a mistake by one of our players after he decided to stop and wait for the referee's whistle because he thought he had been fouled.

"But it wasn't a foul and they played on and scored and that one incident has ended up costing us the game.

"Within the last 30 seconds Jamie Sheldon had an excellent chance right to equalise for us on the far post when he was unmarked but he headed the ball over the top.

"Having said that, on their second half performance Watford deserved their victory."

Spooner continued: "Kids football is about developing the player, but what really disappointed me most was how they couldn't seem to get themselves up another gear in the second half.

"In the second half they lay down and died.

"They haven't done that before and I've never been able to fault them for lack of effort, but this time they showed a lack of resilience."

Blues Under 18's 0 Watford U18's 1

Blues 18's: Lyness, Rutter, L Rowe, O'Brien, J Rowe, Moratti, Lea, Hunt, Gradwell, Sheldon, Packwood (Moses-Garvey).
Subs not used: Kweku, Preston.