A superb Sonny Blu Lo-Everton free-kick clinched a notable FA Youth Cup triumph for Watford’s Under-18s as they knocked out last season’s semi-finalists Birmingham City in the third round last night.

The 16-year-old talent sealed the 1-0 success with 15 minutes remaining when he curled home the set piece with pace and precision from just outside the penalty area to set up a fourth round date at home to Southampton.

It was a deserved reward for the young Hornets, who got off to a fast start in the tie at Wingate & Finchley with Ryan Cassidy, Dominic Hutchinson and Blu-Lo Everton all having good chances in the opening 15 minutes.

After making the breakthrough, Hutchinson spurned two more fine chances to make the game safe and the hosts almost paid the price when Tate Campbell fired wide with only goalkeeper Dante Baptiste to beat in stoppage time.

Reflecting on a "pleasing night", Academy head Darren Sarll told the club website: “I thought we played really well. I’m a little bit disappointed with 1-0 to be honest. We must have had 16 or 17 corners. I thought we were very, very dominant and it was a really good performance.”

Sarll continued: “This team hardly ever plays together and we stitch them together for the cup games and they have to gel as they go along.

"The 18s and the 23s are two very different teams, so you have to try and bring them together, but they did fantastically well. I was really pleased with them tonight."

Watford Under-18s: Baptiste; Langston, Tricker, Hudson, Gordon; Sankoh, Phillips, Bennetts; Blu Lo-Everton, Hutchinson, Cassidy. Subs not used: Hoskins, Campbell, Maclean, Mullings, Sesay