A SOLITARY strike from Liam Henderson separated the sides at Boreham Wood as Watford Reserves beat City Reserves 1-0 in the Totesport.com Combination - East Division.

Both teams created chances in the first half, most notably with Watford 'keeper Jonathan North twice denying striker Cody McDonald, who was making only his second start after a thigh injury. Andy Yiadom looked to have given the hosts the lead but his shot whistled just past the outside of Declan Rudd's post.

Just before the interval centre-back Zak Whitbread limped off after picking up a knock and was replaced in defence by first year scholar Remy Gordon.

Yiadom went close just after the interval as well, and the resulting corner was headed off the line. Henderson then saw two headers in the space of a few minutes flash just wide but wasn't be too denied as he scored the only goal of the game on 69 minutes.

The Hornets' striker cut in from the right and drove his angled shot across Rudd into the far corner.

Welsh youth international Josh Dawkin then went close to restoring parity with a low drive, but it went wide of North's right-hand post.

Sub Gordon had the game's last chance when he let fly from distance after a half-cleared corner in stoppage time, but unluckily for Ian Crook's side flew inches wide of the post.

CITY: Rudd, Spillane, Francomb, Whitbread (Gordon 39), Askou (Lathrope 46), Gill, Tudur Jones, Adeyemi, McDonald (Clarke), Kelly, Dawkin. Subs not used: Steer (GK), Drmola.

Watford: North, Oshodi, Parkes, Bennett, Travner, Brooks, Penny (Massey 68), Bryan, Yiadom, Henderson (Mingoia 72), Gibson. Subs not used: Angus, Bond (GK), Isaac.