Moses goal cushions loss of Hendo

9:22pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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Moses Ashikodi showed there is life without Darius Henderson by scoring a stunning goal as Watford defeated Boreham Wood 3-1 in their first pre-season friendly tonight.

The former Glasgow Rangers man was introduced as a sub on the hour mark and took 17 minutes to make his mark, cutting inside from the right to beat Noel Imber with a sweet left-footed strike that arrowed into the far corner.

However, the lead lasted barely two minutes, Jon Wordsworth beating Mart Poom to a corner to head into an unguarded net.

But Lawrence Hunter, a young attacking player on trial, won it for Watford with a curling free-kick from the left that eluded the Boreham Wood defence and drifted into the far corner.

Amazingly, the left-footed Hunter - the son of first-team coach Martin - repeated the trick just a minute later with an even better effort.

Aidy Boothroyd fielded a new 4-3-3 formation at the home of the Ryman League outfit, with Tamas Priskin flanked by Jobi McAnuff and Theo Robinson in attack and Academy prospect Rob Jenkins, John Eustace and John O'Toole forming a midfield triumvirate.

With Jay DeMerit on international duty and Dan Shittu seeking a move, trialist Souleymane Bamba, a French-Ivorian defender who played for Dunfermline last season, partnered Leigh Bromby at the heart of the defence and he caught the eye, particularly during the first half that witnessed some bright, inventive football.

Tommy Smith and Jon Harley, who was sat in the stands, were not risked due to slight knocks.

McAnuff went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first-half, unleashing a volley that Noel Imber did well to tip over the bar. McAnuff also created the chance that saw Theo Robinson hit the post from an acute angle.

Chances were few and far between in the second half, John Eustace going closest with a free-kick that was well saved.

That was virtually the captain's last action of the match as Boothroyd, as expected, rung the changes on the hour mark.

Lewis Young was among a number of eight changes and he was cheered on by his elder brother Ashley, the England and Aston Villa star.

Watford: Poom; Mariappa, Bromby, Bamba, Sadler; Jenkins, Eustace, O'Toole; Robinson, Priskin, McAnuff. Subs: Doyley, Young, Hunter, Bangura, Avinel, Henderson, Parkes, Ashikodi for Bromby, Eustace, Sadler, Jenkins, Priskin, McAnuff, Robinson and Mariappa (60).

Boreham Wood: Imber; Burrows, Adeji, Wordsowrth, Barber; Morgan, Lee, Allinson, Donnelly, Mason; Watters. Subs: Ofori, Burgess, Clements, Tison-Lascaris, Pelling, Lewis.