WATFORD fans had the unusual experience of watching a team 'do a Watford' on them as the Hornets exited from the League (Worthington) Cup on Tuesday night.

But whereas Watford often succeeded in registering one-off cup successes with disciplined performances in days gone by, I cannot readily recall them having the indian sign over a team from two divisions higher, on three successive occasions.

There was much about the Cambridge approach and discipline, the crosses and throws into the penalty area and the way they moved quickly onto the half-clearances, that reminded one of halcyon Watford days.

They appeared to railroad Watford in a friendly, continue where they left off in the first leg and then had the consummate cheek, and the ability to go with it, to come to Vicarage Road, looking to win the second leg.

Cambridge did not arrive in town seeking to defend and protect a one-goal lead. They deployed three forwards as usual and should have gone in at the interval a goal to the good.

Watford huffed and puffed but took 35 minutes before mustering their first goal attempt, which really is an appalling statistic for a side from two divisions higher, attempting to retrieve a one-goal deficit at home.

They finished with three first-half attempts, Daley's first-time shot, which was blocked, being the only one on target.

On the other hand it took a fine tackle from Robinson to prevent Kyd going through with only Chamberlain to beat.

Then, after 39 minutes, Benjamin found himself in just that situation but was unable to find the net, such was Chamberlain's dexterity in spreading himself.

And that just about summed up the first half action. Watford dithered and dashed to no good effect and the attack looked sterile.

So it was something of a pleasant shock to the system when Watford came out in the second half, scored and then threatened to add to their tally with some incisive football.

But just as we were trying to analyse what they had done to bring about this transformation, the vision faded and Cambridge were back in control and looking the more likely to score a second goal.

The penalty, while a justifiable decision on the referee's part, was relatively unforced. Yates, who has looked sound, caught Benjamin when there did not seem to be immediate danger.

Left with 11 minutes in which to try and force extra time, Watford had one chance, although some claim the linesman was waving Smart offside when his lob just cleared the target.

It was all very disappointing, although having watched Cambridge dictate the game to Watford on two previous occasions, not completely surprising.

It leaves Watford with a long autumn and a wait until January until they have a chance of spicing up with a cup tie, what may well be a battling season searching for consolidation.

Defensively, Watford accounted for themselves well. Certainly they experienced a more comfortable 90 minutes than had been the case in the previous 180 at the Abbey Stadium.

Watford appear to have settled into 4-4-2, which is good news for the likes of Robinson who appears to be coming of age.

This was their second outing as a unit and it represented progress.

Such could not be said for the ability to create chances and work the keeper. To date, Watford have had 16 on-target shots in 360 minutes of football, whereas last season they when they were not exactly renowned for being an all-action, attacking side, they would have had twice that many.

Taylor, who has always believed in a minimum target of a 20-shot tally in every match, would rightly point to the fact that Easton-Hyde, Ngonge-Rosenthal (or Smart) are new partnerships. Further there is Kennedy playing on the left, whereas he has been a wing-back in 3-4-3, Hazan is still an unknown quantity who threatens to use his pace and power but has yet to deliver it, and Daley has just embarked on the long haul back up the slope towards his former benchmarks.

Plainly Taylor is planning on an emergent team and not one that is anywhere near the finished article at this point in time. On Tuesday night, he opted for pace and with Bazeley and Hazan on the bench, he could have maintained this option throughout the game.

However, Daley went out of the game soon after Watford had scored, Rosenthal, apart from one moment, was subdued and Kennedy withdrawn, so the attack lost impetus.

Of course, had Ngonge struck home a couple of opportunities in the second half, one of which cleared the bar and the other went just wide of the upright, it could have been a different story. Likewise, Rosenthal engineered himself an opening with a vintage run, but the keeper blocked the shot and after this flurry of promising goalmouth activity, the Cambridge keeper could relax.

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