Watford’s Under-21s ended their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 defeat at Wingate and Finchley on Saturday afternoon.

The only goal of the game at the Maurice Rebak Stadium came from striker Luke Deslandes nine minutes into the second half.

The Isthmian Premier League side had already held another Football League side, Peterborough United, to a 0-0 draw earlier in the summer.

The Watford team included a number of players who have featured for the first team during pre-season, including Michael Adu-Poku, Leo Ramirez-Espain, George Abbott and Amin Nabizada.

The Watford line-up at Wingate and Finchley was: Macauley; Eames, Watkiss, Coyne, Mullins, Adu-Poku, Ramirez-Espain, Abbot, Adeyemo, Assiedou, Nabizada. Subs: Lawson, Browne, Torres, Shevchenko, Buers, Garcia-Romero, Sikiru

Last Tuesday, the Under-21s made the short journey to face Chesham United, who won the Southern Premier League last season and are preparing for life in the National League South.

Striker Jonathan Lawson gave the young Hornets a 12th-minute lead at The Meadow.

However, the home side levelled it up midway through the second half and then secured a 2-1 victory four minutes into stoppage time.

The Under-21’s, who will be led again by Charlie Daniels with Dan Gosling as his assistant, begin their Premier League Professional Development League campaign with a home game against Fleetwood Town at London Colney on Monday August 12.

They are then due to play Birmingham City at Vicarage Road at 2pm on Monday August 26.

Another home game, against Charlton Athletic on Friday September 20 at 1pm, is also scheduled to take place at Vicarage Road.

Then there are three more home fixtures listed to be played at Vicarage Road in the new year: against Coventry City on Monday March 31 (2pm), Peterborough United on Friday April 11 (1pm), and Sheffield Wednesday on Monday May 5 (2pm).

The other 11 home matches, including the opening against Fleetwood, are being played at the training ground.

Picture courtesy of Neale Blackburn Photography.