Two quality strikes from James Collins were not enough for Watford Under-21s to end their season with a point as they were beaten 3-2 by Burnley at Vicarage Road.

It was an entertaining game which both sides could say they deserved to win, and the Hornets would have just cause to feel short-changed having left with nothing.

Collins can feel particularly hard done by as his two goals were both classy efforts: the first a well-struck effort taken on the run, the second a proper striker’s finish from a half-cleared corner.

The 18-year-old has acquitted himself well since joining from Hertford Town and certainly shown plenty to work with.

Shaq Forde started the game after his loan spell at York City came to an end but he limped off after 34 minutes.

Josh Mullins returned after injury and once again his pairing with captain George Abbott in defence looked solid and assured.

Young full-back Harry Amass played the full 90 minutes and showed his usual strength and willingness to battle, but also threw in one memorable cross on the run that almost presented Collins with a third goal.

It was a fighting performance from the young Hornets who started the season on the wrong end of some big scorelines but showed this afternoon they have built up confidence and resilience.

Four minutes in Sassi rose well in a crowded penalty area but nodded Thompson’s free-kick over the bar.

Watford went ahead after 12 minutes with a really well-taken goal from Collins. Blake broke away on the left and the Hornets found themselves with three on two – the winger drew one defender and then slipped a ball across the box which Collins struck first time, steering it firmly beyond keeper Caspar and inside the upright.

Shortly after Thompson stung the palms of Macaulay from 20 yards, but the keeper gathered at the second attempt.

Forde then tried his luck from 25 yards after a great run by the Blake, and the ball struck Grieves sending it looping up and forcing Casper to tip over the bar.

Burnley levelled in the 22nd minute with a good goal of their own. Bauress crossed from the left and Polish youth international Gromek got across his marker to send his header beyond the dive of Macaulay and inside the near post.

The visitors then went ahead in the 33rd minute after a well-worked move in and around the box that ended with Bauress shooting past Macaulay from just inside the area.

Five minutes into the second half young full-back Amass showed why he’s so highly rated as he strode away down the left and then sent over a pinpoint cross to the back post which Collins met perfectly, only to be denied by the fingertips of Casper.

In the 56th minute Watford were so close to an equaliser. A corner was recycled by Collins and his chip into the box dropped for Adu-Poku, whose toe-poke goalwards seemed set to find the net until Caspar took off to his left and pushed it round the post.

Soon after Blake’s floated corner was met by Abbott, but the Watford skipper had to lean back to meet it and his header was straight at Caspar.

The Hornets drew level after 68 minutes. Blake’s corner wasn’t cleared, it almost dropped for Fankwe and when Burnley didn’t clear Collins hooked a shot beyond the reach of Caspar.

Macaulay excelled twice in a matter of seconds, firstly being quick off his line to bravely block at the feet of Tweedy, and then diving full length to tip away Hugill’s low shot which seemed destined for the bottom corner.

However, the Watford keeper then blotted his copybook in the 78th minute when he got both hands to a long-range effort from Thompson but couldn’t stop the ball entering the net for the winner

Watford: Macaulay; Triallist (Touray 79), Amass, Davis (Delyfer ht), Abbott, Mullins (Fankwe ht), Forde (Adu-Poku 34), Coyne, Collins, Grieves, Blake. Sub not used