Eames' goal decisive as Watford U21s beat Everton...

Twenty minutes from the end, Watford Under-21s defeated Everton 1-0 in the Premier League Cup thanks to a goal

from Albert Eames.

The Hornets moved to the top of a very close Group F with the victory at Kings Langley FC’s Orbital Fasteners

Stadium.

Everton, Ipswich, and Cardiff City all have five points from four games, compared to six for Watford.

With two games remaining for each team, the Hornets are now in a strong position to place in the top two and

advance to the knockout stage.

The single goal was scored by Eames, who had been on loan at Chelmsford City in the National League South,

against Everton, who also had Scottish international defender Nathan Patterson sent off in the second half and

Chelsea attacker Armando Broja on loan.

Eames took aim in the opening action of the evening, but Fraser Barnsley, the goalkeeper, deflected his shot.

Before Hornets keeper Gabriel Ortelli stopped a Patterson attempt, Charlie Whittaker blasted a glanced header wide

for the visitors.

A relatively chanceless half finished with Ortelli making excellent saves to deny Isaac Heath and save Callum Bates’

follow-up attempt after 26 minutes, when George Abbott fired a header off target.

Barnsley turned over a curling shot from Zavier Massiah-Edwards ten minutes into the second half that was headed

for the top corner.

An hour later, Patterson, who had already been booked in the first half, booted the ball away after giving up a free

kick and receiving a second yellow, reducing the Toffees to ten men.

That made it possible for the Hornets to enter, and ten minutes later they did so in a grand fashion.

After making a clever one-two with Massiah-Edwards and driving in the direction of the Everton box, Eames shot

beyond Barnsley.

Before the visitors’ pathetic penalty appeals were dismissed for a handball, substitute Laken Torres came very close

to increasing the lead shortly after his shot missed the upright.

Harrison Armstrong’s header that flew past the bar was the closest Everton got to saving a draw.

The Under-21 team will play again on Monday at London Colney when they visit Millwall in the Premier League

Development League South.

Watford: Ortelli; Eames (Almeida 90), Buers (Gould 90), Ramirez-Espain, Tikvic, Abbott, Massiah-Edwards, Coyne,

Lawson (Torres 67), Fraser-Grante (Keyes 67), Nabizada. Unused sub: Garcia-Romero

Eames’ goal decisive as Watford U21s beat Everton in cup