A goal two minutes from the end of normal time saw Watford Under-21s let a point slip away as they were beaten 2-1 by Ipswich Town.
Watford took the chance to give game time to Pierre Dwomoh, one of six players in the starting XI that has appeared for the first team.
The game started in torrential rain at Portman Road, and the home dominated the opening 25 minutes, forcing four corners in the first 10 minutes and failing to take some decent chances.
The Hornets slowly grew into the game, and the pace of Michael Adu-Poku down the right clearly unsettled the home defence.
The second half was a complete reversal of the first 45 minutes as Watford were well on top, went ahead through Jake Watkiss and had several other chances.
Failing to take them was punished as the home side levelled it up and then secured all three points at the death with a couple of fine long-range strikes.
It was Watford’s sixth defeat in seven league and cup fixtures.
Here’s how the action unfolded.
11 – Davis clever one-two to get into box, angled shot blocked by Macaulay
13 – Poor back pass Almeida, Davis nipped in but Macaulay managed to smother
16 – Turner’s corner headed over by Ayoola
19 –Mendell got to by-line, chipped back and Davis looped header over
20 – First chance for Watford as Adu-Poku burst into the box on right and hit side-netting
24 – Mendell released Davis, who looked clearly offside, no flag but he shot over the bar anyway
34 – Tremendous acceleration down the right by Adu-Poku, slipped inside, Eames helped on to Dwomoh, his 20-yard effort was held by Gray.
36 – Davis sent away by Taylor, into box but Clarridge did well to get back and block
37 – Davis controlled in box, turned and shot home but was offside
40 – Great pass Dwomoh set Adu-Poku clear down the right, he squared to Watkiss who teed up Massiah-Edwards for a low shot touched round the post by Gray
45+2 – Dwomoh nodded down a cross, Clarridge struck a first-time shot and Gray held well.
Half-time – Ipswich 0 Watford 0
52 – Watkiss deep inswinging free-kick, Adeyemo rose well and headed narrowly over
54 – Adu-Poku stole ball from Ayoola, accelerated into box and then unselfishly squared to Adeyemo, who tried to check and ran into a defender
56 – Adu-Poku away again down the right, pulled back but Okunowo slid in to take the ball off Adeyemo’s feet
59 – Ipswich Town 0 Watford 1 (Watkiss)
Ramirez-Espain and Massiah-Edwards combine to play in Watkiss on the left of the box, and his firmly-struck shot is deflected past Gray
63 – Watkiss curled a left-footed free-kick from out on the flank just over the bar
64 – Adu-Poku drove through the centre, checked and shot towards left-hand upright which ray tipped away
69 – Cutting in from the right, Adu-Poku surged into the box and shot but it was deflected wide by Mazionis
70 – Dwomoh jinked across the edge of the box, then slipped ball to Ramirez-Espain whose rising drive beat Gray but crashed back off the bar
73 – Ipswich Town 1 (Jambang) Watford 1
Babb sent full-back Jambang away on the right and he struck a low angled shot across Macaulay and in via the base of the post
76 – Davis broke in behind the Hornets defence but the advancing Macaulay saved
85 – Ramirez-Espain stole the ball and fed Adeyemo, whose was stopped in his tracks by a great tackle in the box by Mazionis. The ball ran loose and Eames shot over the bar.
86 – Adeyemo stole the ball after Gray stretched to reach it on the ground. The striker was forced wide but turned and laid it off, only for Lawson to scuff a shot with the home defence all over the place.
88 – Ipswich 2 (Nwabueze) Watford 1
Substitute Nwabueze picked the ball up, drove towards the box and then drilled a lot shot past Macaulay into the far bottom corner.
90+2 – Clarridge fired a low 25-yard free-kick just wide of the back post
Full-time – Ipswich Town 2 Watford 1
The Under-21s are due to host Cardiff City in the Premier League Cup at Kings Langley’s Orbital Fasteners Stadium at 7pm on Thursday October 17.
Watford: Macaulay; Abbott (Coyne 77), Watkiss, Dwomoh, Clarridge, Almeida (Kamga 58), Eames, Ramirez-Espain, Adeyemo (Keyes 86), Adu-Poku, Massiah-Edwards (Lawson 77). Unused sub: Browne
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here