WATFORD suffered their first defeat of pre-season last night (Wednesday) when a mixed side went down 2-1 against St Albans City at Clarence Park.

Although the Hornets had Steve Kabba, Al Bangura and Johann Cavalli in the starting line-up, they fell behind shortly after the half-hour mark when a corner from the right was half-cleared to Hassan Sulaiman who, from around 25 yards, unleashed a superb half-volley that gave keeper Jonathan North no chance.

Saints doubled their advantage just before the interval when North failed to hold James Baker's rising angled drive and Chris Seeby drove the rebound back into the ground and into the roof of the net.

Watford gave themselves hope seven minutes after the restart when half-time replacement Kieron Forbes fired a fine shot inside the angle of City keeper Nick Eyre's near post, but, if anything, it was the home side who looked the more likely scorers after that.