Chelsea Res 1 Watford Res 3

Late goals by Anthony McNamee and Al Bangura gave Watford an impressive victory over Chelsea at a soggy Aldershot Town FC last night.

A contest that had centred mainly on a engaging midfield battle for the majority of the evening finally sprang to life into the last 15 minutes, and after Miroslav Stoch had cancelled out Albert Jarrett's penalty opener for the visitors, the diminutive McNamee and Bangura sealed the points in Watford's favour.

Dick Bate's side had travelled to the Recreation ground protecting a five match unbeaten run and buoyed by the fact a number of first team squad players were available for selection, including James Chambers and big money summer signings, Danny Shittu and Damien Francis.

Meanwhile, the hosts gave a debut to goalkeeper, Magnus Hedman, recently signed by the Champions as cover for their well publicised goalkeeping concerns.

The first half took a time to get going but Michael Woods went close for the home side whilst at the other end Bangura gave Hedman his first test after fine approach work by McNamee.

Ben Sahar was catching the eye for the Blues and after firing straight at Alec Chamberlain when well placed he then had another effort blocked by Ben Gill.

The second half began in increasingly treacherous conditions, but Watford gradually got on top of their opponents, and just after the hour Tamas Priskin fired wide before Jarrett tested an increasingly busy Hedman.

Watford, visibly growing in confidence continued to take the game to their hosts and finally made the breakthrough on 75 minutes.

A long raking ball from defence caught out the Chelsea rearguard and Priskin's shot from inside the penalty area cannoned off Pettigrew's hand.

The resultant spot kick was dispatched with cool efficiently high into the roof of the net by Jarrett, the 22-year-old's third goal of the reserve season to put Watford ahead.

Any thoughts that Chelsea may be finished were soon dispelled though as the Blues came roaring back to equalise barely five minutes later. Substitute Stoch collected a pass from Scott Sinclair and cleverly attempted to slot over Chamberlain. The ball deflected off the veteran goalie but still had sufficient velocity to trickle over the line.

There was still time for Bangura to add a third, the Sierra Leone midfielder reacting quickest after Toumani Diagouraga had seen his attempt blocked.

So an excellent three points consolidates Watford's fourth position in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League South table and sets them up nicely for their next fixture, away to Nationwide Conference National outfit, Stevenage Borough in the Hertfordshire Senior Cup Second Round on Tuesday 5 December.