Warhurst: Quickfire goal was all part of the plan! | OneFootball

Matty Warhurst said his early strike in Thursday’s FA Youth Cup semi-final 1-0 victory at Watford saw City’s pre-match strategy pay handsome dividends.

Lead coach Oliver Reiss had urged his players to try and make a fast start to the game at Vicarage Road and saw City execute the game plan to perfection when Warhurst struck with just four minutes on the clock.

It was the striker’s second successive goal at Vicarage Road with Warhurst having also been on target there in last season’s third round FA Youth Cup victory for City.

This one carried even more weight, firing Cup holders City through to a second successive final where our reward is a final away to Aston Villa.

“Part of the game plan was to like in the first 10 minutes just to be direct and try and score early and that's what we did,” Warhurst revealed.

“I think we created a few chances early on and it was nice to put the first chance away that I got.

“It’s also a nice feeling for the second year in a row to score at Vicarage Road and at the same end of the ground as well.

“And obviously it was a good goal. I took a touch on my knee and then followed it in so I was obviously really happy to score.”

Unlike City’s wins at Leeds (6-1) and West Brom (6-0) in the previous two rounds, Thursday’s victory was a much tighter affair.

Though City dominated in terms of territory and chances – with Watford keeper Sam Morris producing a string of outstanding saves – the hosts also threatened on occasions too.

And for Warhurst the manner of a tight win on the road with the stakes so high made the achievement all the more memorable.

“I think it always feels nice when it's like a 1-0 or 2-1 type of game where it's tight and you have to properly like, work hard for it,” he said.

“And I feel like it was reward for that tonight. Especially like away, it felt like a lot tougher than it would be at our place as well.

“Now we’re all looking forward to the final. Obviously that's a big competition and obviously Aston Villa will be a really tough test.

“But it's one game at a time.

“We're going keep trying in every game and in training until then to prepare properly.”