A superb goal from Zavier Massiah-Edwards was enough for Watford Under-21s to beat QPR at London Colney this afternoon and claim back-to-back victories.

It was also two clean sheets in the spin as they followed up last week’s 7-0 mauling of Colchester with a deserved 1-0 win over the Hoops, who were managed by former Hornets striker Paul Furlong.

Watford were the better team throughout, defending well from the front as the forwards and midfield never gave the visitors a moment’s rest.

Apart from one very good save, keeper Jonathan Macaulay was largely a spectator for the second game in a row and had the Hornets grabbed one or two more goals it would probably have been a better reflection.

Interestingly, just as the first team did on Saturday at Sheffield Wednesday, the Under-21s played with a back four in which James Clarridge once again looked so assured and comfortable, both in the air and on the floor.

The two full-backs, George Abbott and Freddie Buers, both played well while in attack Jonathan Lawson led the line with strength and pace.

The winning goal from Massiah-Edwards was an absolute peach, a powerful hit that arrowed straight towards ‘top bins’ and gave Rangers keeper Matteo Salamon no hope.

The victory lifts Watford to seventh in the FA Premier Development League South, and they host Ipswich Town at London Colney on Saturday.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

7 – Salamon fumbled which allowed Buers to cross, Lawson laid the ball off and Garcia-Romero Ferrer had a shot blocked

10 – Clarridge headed a Buers corner goalwards where Tuck cleared the ball from near the line

19 - Ramirez-Espain sent a 20-yard free-kick wide

23 - Tarbotton rolled a pass into the path of Sanyaolu, but Macaulay pushed away his firmly-struck shot

27 – Watford 1 (Massiah-Edwards) QPR 0

Abbott released Garcia-Romero Ferrer on the right, his low cross was just running out of the box when Massiah-Edwards hit it first-time into the top-right corner

36 - Buers' corner from the right was met by another Clarridge header that was very close to crossing the line before being hacked clear

45+3 - Ramirez-Espain saw a dipping 25-yard free-kick held by Salamon at the base of the post

Half-time: Watford 1 QPR 0

46 - QPR caught playing in their own box, and Keyes hammered the ball goalwards only to be denied by a flying save from Salamon

53 - Buers cut the ball back and Massiah-Edwards fired over from the edge of the box

61 - Keyes curled a shot from the edge of the area that Salamon held at the second attempt

63 – A clearance was blocked and ran to Petrie, but he dragged his shot across face of goal

66 - Shann crossed deep, Neill headed across the goalmouth but no QPR players were there to capitalise

84 - Ramirez-Espain shot from edge of the D, and Salamon got down well to push the ball away

Full-time: Watford 1 QPR 0

Watford: Macaulay; Abbott, Buers, Ramirez-Espain, Clarridge, Kamga, Garcia-Romero Ferrer (Sikiru 70), Coyne, Lawson, Keyes, Massiah-Edwards (Torres 75). Unused subs: Ortelli, Almeida, Mullins