Hayes 2 Watford 1

Whilst the first team were entertaining the mighty Inter Milan at a well populated Vicarage Road, the reserves kicked off their 2006/07 campaign in rather less salubrious surroundings.

Church Road Hayes to be precise, and the second string's opening pre-season friendly of the 2006/07 campaign was to end in a narrow odd goal in three reversal at the hands of the Nationwide Conference South side's first team.

Reserve team manager, Gary Smith had a relatively experienced squad of players from which to choose, with Malky Mackay and Matthew Spring, regular first team members from last season, complementing talented youngsters such as Toumani Diagouraga, Theo Robinson and Joel Grant in the starting line-up.

The game began well enough for the Golden Boys and within three minutes they had hit wood, but a lack of concentration in defence just after the quarter hour mark allowed Jon Dyer an opportunity to defeat Watford goalkeeper, Scott Loach.

The visitor's pinned their hosts back for long periods thereafter and Spring almost drew Watford level with a trademark strike from distance, Hayes stopper, Reece Kirk just managing to tip a stinging effort over his crossbar and away to safety.

The second period continued in much the same vain, but an equaliser did not materialise, and inevitably with three minutes to go the Middlesex side wrapped the game up, substitute Miles Jones managing to outstrip the Watford rearguard before slotting past Loach.

There was still time for Hameur Bouazza to claim a consolation, the Parisian firing a fierce shot under Missioners, substitute goalkeeper Adam Thomson but it was too little to late.

Not that the result mattered too much, and the home side were obviously far further advanced in their fitness levels and planning given they begin their league campaign in earnest with a home fixture against Histon this coming Saturday.

Nevertheless, there is plenty of work to be done on the training ground for Smith and his men ahead of the reserves next pre-season friendly, away at non-league Chesham United next Tuesday, as the build up continues towards their opening Barclays Premiership Reserve League South fixture against West Ham United on August 29.