A late, late goal condemned Watford Under-21s to a 1-0 defeat against Hull City in a game they should have had wrapped up well before the visitors struck in stoppage time.

It was a totally different game to the miserable 5-0 defeat at the hands of Swansea only six days earlier, as the Hornets showed plenty of attacking threat and moved the ball around with a zip which had been lacking in that heavy loss.

On another day, they would have run out comfortable winners and that they didn’t is something Watford can only blame themselves for.

They created enough clear openings to have wrapped the game up but a couple of good stops and some very profligate finishing meant they suffered the ultimate punishment at the death when Hull took a chance with the sort of killer instinct Watford had lacked.

A club that has always done well to unearth homegrown wingers, the Hornets may have found another two that could continue that production line.

Although still eligible to play for the Under-18s, Amin Nabizada and Zavier Massiah-Edwards have both played regularly for the Under-21s as well as having a taste of sitting on the bench for the first team at an away game.

Nabizada has incredible pace, going from a standing start to high speed in extremely short time, meaning whoever marks him cannot be sure whether to try and get tight and risk being turned, or stand off him but gamble that he won’t just accelerate past them.

On the other flank, Massiah-Edwards is a real bag of tricks with the ability to go past players with a drop of the shoulder or a clever flick. He’s strong too, and has a very good leap despite not being the tallest.

Although they are both still young, it was simply fun to watch two teenagers who wanted to run at defenders, take them on and be a threat.

They clearly have a lot to learn and plenty to prove, but those who remember the likes of Callaghan, Barnes and Young will certainly enjoy seeing either of this Academy duo in full flight.

Albert Eames, another player moved into the first-team fold by Tom Cleverley recently, has been solid and dependable all season.

Again in this game he looked very comfortable in possession, passed the ball well and also got forward down the flank.

The first half was full of action and chances at both ends as the two sides went at it from the off.

Seven minutes in Torres set Nabizada away down the left. The young winger checked inside and, from just inside the box, curled a shot wide of the back post.

In the next attack Watford worked the ball from left to right and Massiah-Edwards was denied at close range by Foster from a narrow angle.

In the 13th minute Nabizada worked his way into the box on the left and his low cross was partly blocked but ran loose to Torres. He had his back to goal but managed to bustle his way to one side of the defender before sending a low shot skidding just wide.

Another well-worked move down the right saw Massiah-Edwards tee up Eames for a cross which Torres met at the front post but stabbed just the wrong side of the upright.

Hull’s first sight of goal came when Hall moved inside from the left and laid the ball off for Aydinlik to shoot over the bar.

In a fast-flowing half the Hornets responded and Torres rose well to flick the ball on, allowing Nabizada to jink inside the full-back before releasing a 20-yard effort that Foster held.

The visitors should really have gone ahead in the 23rd minute when Hall started a moved by playing in Furling down the left. The full-back got to the by-line and pulled the ball back, but although Hall had continued his run he swept his shot wide of the target.

Then it was Watford’s turn to miss a golden opportunity as Eames sent over a perfect cross from the right that landed between the two central defenders but was headed over the top by Massiah-Edwards.

After half an hour Hull cleared a Watford attack and Aydinlik appeared to wrestle Mullins to the ground as he turned and race across the halfway line. He had options to his left but the forward cut inside and dragged a shot wide of the back post.

A superb block on the line from Mullins denied the visitors what looked to be a certain goal when Sellars-Fleming got in behind the defence and then unselfishly squared the ball.

Covil seemed merely to have to hit the net but his well-struck shot was somehow deflected up and over the bar by Mullins.

From the resultant corner Coyle hit a deep curling set piece which would have looped in if Clarridge hadn’t stretched to head it away.

Torres did well again to flick the ball on in the 42nd minute, but having run onto it and progressed into the box, Fraser-Grante pulled his shot across the face of goal.

Five minutes into the second half Gaspar spotted the run of Nabizada into the box on the left. His high curling pass picked the winger out, but he opted to try and control the ball rather than hit it, and it bounced off him and ran out of play.

In the next attack, Nabizada forced a full-length save from Foster when he struck a 20-yard effort that was flying towards the bottom corner.

Another excellent chance for Watford went begging in the 57th minute. Nabizada shaped to go outside then cut in and stroked a pass perfectly into the path of Massiah-Edwards. His first touch was good but his attempt to guide a low shot past Foster from 12 yards was blocked by the keeper.

Shortly after Watkiss curled a free-kick from the left flank which Fraser-Grante climbed well to meet, but then sent his header over the top.

In the 65th minute Eames did extremely well to win a tackle 25 yards out and then follow the loose ball into the area. As Foster came out Eames stretched to try and prod the ball square to the unmarked Torres for a tap in, but the Hull keeper managed to deflect it away.

Eight minutes from time Watford failed to take the clearest chance of the game. Sellars-Fleming played a woeful pass midway inside his own half that went straight to the feet of Nabizada just inside the Hull box.

The winger steadied himself but sent his effort straight at the advancing Foster.

In the 87th minute Watkiss did extremely well to extricate himself from being seemingly trapped by a defender on the by-line before doing even better to swing over a cross that was screaming ‘head me in’.

However, the yellow shirts in the box didn’t react and the visitors headed clear.

Then, four minutes into stoppage time, the cruellest of blows - Hull broke, the ball was worked into the left of the box and although Macaulay made a fine one-handed save to keep a shot out, Hall smashed the loose ball into the roof of the net from the tightest of angles to give the Tigers a 1-0 win they didn't deserve.

Watford: Macaulay; Eames, Watkiss, Gaspar, Clarridge, Mullins, Massiah-Edwards (Davis 74), Ramirez-Espain (Coyne 59), Torres (Vancea 83), Fraser-Grante (Trialist 74), Nabizada (Lawson 83).