Cauna dismissal one of few talking points as Watford Reserves draw with Peterborough United

9:05pm Monday 20th April 2009

By Frank Smith

Aleksandrs Cauna's hopes of securing a permanent deal at Vicarage Road took a blow when the Latvia international was sent off in Watford Reserves 0-0 draw with Peterborough United.

Cauna's dismissal in the 34th minute for kicking out was one of the only talking points in a game of few chances.

Brendan Rodgers said the Skonto Riga midfielder has between now and the end of the season to earn himself a permanent move to the Golden Boys.

But with just two first-team games left and a pending suspension at Reserve team level, the 21-year-old does not have long left to impress.

It was a relatively experienced Hornets line-up compared to previous games, with 30-year-old keeper Stuart Searle, Estonia international Andrei Stepanov and Cauna joining Reserve regulars such as Lewis Young and Liam Henderson.

Neither side had a chance in the opening ten minutes and when it did come, it was the lively Michael Bryan who cut in from the right, beat two men and then struck a left-footed shot from 20 yards, which was comfortably saved.

The Hornets Reserves have played some lovely football this season but they struggled to get their passing game in the early stages and it was another ten minutes until the next opportunity arose.

Bryan was looking the most dangerous of the Watford players and he worked his way from his own half to the Peterborough byline, but his pullback was blocked before it reached Young.

Latvian international Cauna was playing on the opposite flank and his first real contribution came when he challenged on the half-way line and burst forward, he put Lewis Young in down the left but the forward's cross was also cut out.

Cauna had put in his fair of challenges but his night was over when on 34 minutes, while on the ground, the winger kicked out at Craig Braham-Barrett and was sent off.

There was nothing more of note in the first half as Watford came to terms with having ten men.

The Hornets started the second half much better despite having a man less and there were signs of their passing game in short spells.

The first chance of the second period went to Peterborough though as Danny Andrew sent in a cross from the left and Jay Davies rose highest but it was never going to test Searle.

Chances were few and far between and Watford striker Liam Henderson had to wait almost an hour for his first sniff at goal but when the ball did somehow fall to him in the box, his half volley forced James McKeown into a good save at his near post.

Bryan continued to be Watford's main threat and another run from his own half saw him jump over a cynical swipe by Charlie Dove and slip Henderson in behind the defence but the striker was adjudged to be offside.

With just over ten minutes to go Peterborough had the best chance of the game when substitute Nathan Korenteng burst down the left side and sent in a great cross, which the unmarked Edward Adjei missed and then Dove arrived at the back post and his half-volley was saved by Searle.

Watford replacement Marvin Sordell curled a 20-yard shot wide soon after coming on but as in the first half, neither side created any real chances.

The Hornets survived an injury-time scare when Searle was caught in possession by Adjei but the keeper was able to eventually make the clearance.

Watford: Searle; Hodson, Stepanov, Oshodi, Lavers; Bryan, Parkes, Brooks, Cauna; Young; Henderson (Sordell 74). Subs: Angus, Antal, Whichelow, Penny.

Peterborough United: McKeown; Braham-Barratt, Piergianni, Gourlay, Andrew (Korenteng 71); Abraham, Webb, Dove, Davies; Ginty, Adjei. Subs: Crook, Gaughran, Austin, Cole.