An Albert Eames goal 20 minutes from the end gave Watford Under-21s an impressive and important 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League Cup.

The victory, at Kings Langley FC’s Orbital Fasteners Stadium, took the Hornets to the top of what is a very tight Group F.

Watford have six points from four games, while Everton, Ipswich and Cardiff City all have five.

Each team has two games left to play, but the Hornets are now in pole position to finish in the top two and progress to the knockout phase.

Eames, who has been out on loan at National League South side Chelmsford City, netted the only goal against an Everton side which included on-loan Chelsea striker Armando Broja, and also Scottish international defender Nathan Patterson who was sent off in the second half.

The first action of the night saw Eames take aim but his shot was deflected through to keeper Fraser Barnsley.

Charlie Whittaker sent a glancing header wide for the visitors before Hornets stopper Gabriel Ortelli kept out an effort from Patterson.

George Abbott sent a header off target after 26 minutes and a fairly chance-free half ended with Ortelli saving well to deny Isaac Heath before also stopping Callum Bates’ follow-up effort.

Ten minutes into the second half Zavier Massiah-Edwards unleashed a curling effort that looked destined for the top corner before Barnsley tipped it over.

After an hour, the Toffees were reduced to 10 men when Patterson – who had already been booked in the first half – kicked the ball away after conceding a free-kick and collected a second yellow.

That opened the door for the Hornets, and 10 minutes later they stepped through it in some style.

Eames drove towards the Everton box, played a smart one-two with Massiah-Edwards and then fired a shot past Barnsley.

Substitute Laken Torres went close to extending the lead shortly after when his shot was just wide of the upright, before the visitors had half-hearted penalty appeals waved away for a handball.

The closest Everton came to rescuing a draw was a header from Harrison Armstrong that went over the bar.

The Under-21s are in action again on Monday when they host Millwall in the Premier League Development League South at London Colney.

Watford: Ortelli; Eames (Almeida 90), Buers (Gould 90), Ramirez-Espain, Tikvic, Abbott, Massiah-Edwards, Coyne, Lawson (Torres 67), Fraser-Grante (Keyes 67), Nabizada. Unused sub: Garcia-Romero