• First home defeat of the campaign
• Evans and Robinson go closest
• Valuable minutes for Williams and Finney

Crewe Alexandra Under-21s were edged 1-0 by Watford at the Mornflake Stadium on Monday.

Coach Mike Jackson fielded a strong side including the likes of Zac Williams, Owen Lunt, Tom Booth, Charlie Finney, and Lewis Billington.

But the visitors emerged as victors after a deflected cross found the net and proved decisive in the Professional Development League fixture.

It was a first home defeat of the season for the U21s, but they will have a chance to make amends when Hull City visit next Monday.

Watford forged the first chance of the game when Albert Eames broke down the left and found Jack Grieves, but keeper Booth was equal to his powerful shot

Watford keeper Gabriel Ortelli was kept busy by strikes from Finney and Calum Agius, and when Connor Evans rounded Oretelli his shot was cleared off the line by Josh Mullins.

The visitors hit the front just before the break when Hamzat Balogun’s cross took deflections off both Williams and Booth on its way in.

And it was nearly 2-0 before the whistle when James Collins hit the post.

After the restart, chances were few and far between. Nathan Robinson forced Ortelli to tip one over the bar, and a great block from Charlie Stallard to denied Billington.

But the young Railwaymen ran out of time in their bid to find an equaliser.

Crewe: Booth, Billington, Finney, Nolan (Senior), Robinson, Williams, Parry, Lunt, Agius, Jatta (Moore), Evans.