A stunning strike from Jack Grieves and then tremendous character from him and his Watford teammates when Everton equalised earned the Hornets a 3-1 FA Youth Cup victory and a place in the fifth round, writes Liam French.

Grieves will watch his 12th-minute volley on repeat on his phone for many years, as he gave Watford the lead with a volley that will undoubtedly be a Goal of the Season contender.

Having had the better of the early exchanges, Watford then saw Everton push them back either side of half-time.

The visitors wasted a series of set pieces but then drew level from one they did better with, and with 62 minutes gone the game was in the balance and could easily have slipped from Watford’s grasp.

But then Charlie Daniels’ side showed character and determination to regain the advantage with two goals in five minutes that not only gave them a cushion but also visibly sucked the life out of Everton, who started the night as clear favourites given their higher league stature and status of their Academy set-up.

In fact, although Everton had a go at closing the gap in the final 15 minutes they seldom looked like doing so, and Watford saw the game out with minimal fuss.

There were great performances all over the pitch, but the Watford back four were particularly impressive with 15-year-old full-back Harry Amass catching the eye both when defending but also in possession.

With the fourth round having only just started, Watford will have to wait to discover their fifth-round opponents. On the evidence of tonight, they’ll give anyone a game.

There were three changes to the side that faced Lincoln in the last FA Youth Cup outing with Benn, Amass and Aguilar all making starts. 

In the opening few minutes, Davis looked to get Watford on the attack with a ball in behind the opposition back line, however Benn had just run offside.

After 12 minutes, Watford went ahead in stunning style. Benn attacked the by-line on the right and his cross found the foot of Grieves, whose fabulous volley flew into the top corner. A proper worldy of a strike.

Ten minutes later, Adeyemo was brought down outside the Everton penalty area, but Aguilar’s left-footed effort forced a great save from Jensen. 

Only a minute later, the visitors broke away on the counter-attack with Okoronkwo on the ball who was able to slot Sherif through, though his attempt never tested Ortelli. 

Soon after, Dixon put on the burners as he charged at the Hornets’ defence and managed to find space for a shot, but it was stopped by a grounded Watford leg. 

With ten minutes left of the first half, Aguilar won possession back for Watford deep into the opposing sides half, but his eventual shot was deflected high over the bar. 

Two minutes into added time Adeyemo met an in-swinging cross with his head, flicking the ball towards the goal yet it was calmly caught by Everton’s Jensen. 

Just over ten minutes into the second half and Barker looked to punish the Watford back line following a moment of miscommunication but Mullins was able to make a superb last-ditch challenge to prevent an equaliser. 

However, the visitors drew level after 62 minutes. A floated corner was headed down at the back post by Okoronkwo which found and was controlled by Sherif, who was then able to turn and find the back of the net to make it all square. 

It took just four minutes for Watford to bounce back as Abbott made a clever run at the back post to find space and squeezed his header past Jensen, following a set-piece delivery from Aguilar on the right.

In the 71st minute, the Hornets’ nerves were calmed further as Blake’s low shot after a 40-yard drive through midfield was heavily deflected off Everton’s Samuels-Smith and past Jensen, who was only able to watch the ball dribble into the back of the net. 

With 83 minutes played, Adu-Poku smoothly moved past the tight marking of Everton and laid Blake off on the edge of the box, and his strike forced a great save from Jensen. 

With one minute played of stoppage time, Patterson’s pinpoint cross landed at the feet of Sherif who was only able to hit the ball high and wide, and the Hornets were able to see out the remainder of the game with some comfort.

Watford: Ortelli, Balogun, Amass (Batzelis 88), Davis, Abbott, Mullins, Benn, Grieves (Taylor 63), Adeyemo, Aguilar (Adu-Poku 72), Blake. Unused subs: Browne, King, Sikiru, Goulandris