ARMANDO Dobra scored the winner from the spot as Colchester United's under-23s claimed a 2-1 win at Watford, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Dobra tucked home a penalty just after the midway point to give the U's victory in their Professional Development League Two game at the UCL Sports ground at London Colney.

Richard Hall's side took on a Watford team who started in seventh place in the league table, one ahead of Colchester who were one point behind but did have three games in hand.

The U's featured the likes of Dobra and new signing Camron Gbadebo in their starting line-up, while the Hornets side included Maurizio Pochettino, the son of Paris St Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Also on the Watford subs bench was Kyreece Lisbie, the son of Kevin, who recently scored a hat-trick in their under-18s game against the U’s.

The first chance of the match went to the home team but the volleyed effort by Tiago Cukur went just wide of the target.

And Cukur was in the action again using his strength to force a good save from keeper Jaime Tedaldi.

Shortly before the break, first year scholar Freddie Price gave the U’s the lead from a corner ten minutes before half-time.

Gbadebo became the first booking of the match soon after and a minute before the break, Dobra also received a yellow card for a foul on Adian Manning.

However the U’s went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead but it did not take Watford long to equalise.

The impressive Tiago Cukur levelled as he superbly bent a free-kick into the net, seven minutes after the break.

However the hosts were happy that their keeper kept his team on level terms when Dante Baptiste saved well from Dobra on the hour mark from close range.

But the U’s did not take long to regain their lead as Dobra scored from the spot and the U’s held out to secure the three points.