Watford Res 2 Tottenham Hotspur Res 2

First half goals by Matthew Spring and Adrian Mariappa, via the penalty spot, ensured Watford's reserves maintained their encouraging start to the season in an absorbing encounter with Tottenham Hotspur.

Fielding an experienced line-up Watford began brightly, and took the lead in the seventh minute when Matthew Spring managed to get on the end of a sweeping move involving Jordan Parkes and Anthony McNamee.

The youthful visitors responded in kind to the setback however, and drew level when Kieran McKenna finished with aplomb after outpacing a static home rearguard.

The game continued in its attractive fashion and soon after Tottenham had had realistic appeals for a penalty turned down, Tamas Priskin wasted a glorious opportunity, misfiring badly when well placed.

Priskin was soon to make amends though, the young Hungarian International gaining a penalty verdict on the stroke of half time after an injudicious tackle by Spurs' Phil Ifil.

Perhaps surprisingly Mariappa strode forward, but showing composure beyond his years, the 19-year-old managed to strike a firm shot that whistled past Marton Fulop in the Tottenham goal.

Buoyed by the advantage Watford sought to take control of the contest at the start of the second period, but they were undone by Andrew Barcham, who took advantage of a misplaced pass before rifling a 20 yard shot beyond Richard Lee just prior to the hour.

Thereafter both sides sought to grab a winner, but for all their attempts neither team could force the issue, and perhaps a point apiece was a fitting reward for a splendid evening's entertainment.