Northwood 1 Watford 3

Goals from trialists Albert Jarratt and Tamas Priskin and the returning Dominic Blizzard helped Watford to secure a comfortable success over Southern League Premier Division Northwood at a sweltering Chestnut Avenue after they had trailed to a second minute strike from Northwood's Peter Dean.

Understandably given an itinerary which sees them travelling to Wycombe Wanderers this evening (Wednesday) for a second pre-season friendly inside two days manager, Aidy Boothroyd decided to assemble a team made up of trailsts, together with talented academy and reserve team players for the fixture against Colin Payne's hard working Woods.

The hosts, buoyed by a large crowd could not have got off to a better start.

Barely two minutes had elapsed when Peter Dean, a former Watford trainee netted in fine style, racing on to a delightful through ball before shooting a fierce shot low past an advancing Richard Lee in the visitors goal.

Home joy was never likely to be sustained for long though, and Jarrett soon restored parity for the Golden Boys midway through the first half, albeit with a scruffy goal.

Collecting the ball on the right following good hold up play by Hungarian International trailist, Priskin, Jarrett cut inside Northwood defender, Rob Courtnage before shooting low through a crowded penalty area and an unsighted Liam Watson.

The goal gave added impetus to the Hertfordshire men and they soon added a second, ex-Middlesbrough striker Joseph-Desire Job who had already shown some nice touches, pinpointing an accurate pass straight into the path of Priskin, who neatly chipped the advancing Watson.

The rest of the evening saw Watford assume measured control and they added a third through the returning Blizzard, whose persistence was rewarded when he followed up a header that hit an upright by netting from close range.

So a useful workout and an encouraging display by a number of players trying to catch the eye of the manager although it is fair to say that pre-season begins in earnest with a fixture against Paul Lambert's Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park tonight.