5:06pm Saturday 20th February 2010
By Frank Smith
Watford's winless run away from home continues after John Eustace's 91st-minute winner was cancelled out from the penalty spot with the final kick of the game.
The Hornets completely dominated the first half but somehow found themselves a goal down at the break after Gary Hooper scored in the 42nd minute.
Danny Graham equalised in the second period for the first time since netting against United three months ago.
The Hornets' hopes of winning seem to have ended when Tom Cleverley was sent off with less than ten minutes to go but then Eustace popped up to head into the bottom corner in the first minute of injury time.
But Watford's four-month run without a win away from home was extended when a penalty was awarded against Jay DeMerit after a shot from point-blank range hit the defender's arm and Hooper scored the equaliser with the last kick of the game.
Watford kept faith with Graham up top despite the striker not scoring since these two sides met in November and he was looking dangerous early on.
Good hold up play from the former Carlisle United man, from a long ball by Scott Loach, allowed Don Cowie to get a first-time shot away but his effort was wide of the near post.
The two then switched roles soon after Paul Hayes had a shot blocked, as Graham had a header comfortably saved by Joe Murphy.
Tom Cleverley returned to the Watford line-up after missing the last two games with a knee injury and the midfielder had a thunderous half-volley which was heading for the top corner blocked on 12 minutes.
It was all action in the first half hour and except for a late clearance from Martin Taylor and a Michael O'Connor free kick hitting the wall, it was all Watford.
Graham, who was lively up top and working well Helguson and Cowie, had two chances in quick succession.
First he volleyed wide from a Cowie cross and then a flick-on by Helguson, from an Adrian Mariappa cross, saw Graham's volley pushed out for a corner by Murphy.
The home side survived another scare when Taylor rose highest to head the ball back across goal but no one was able to get on the end of it.
Scunthorpe created next to nothing in the first half and after a tame penalty appeal from the home side, Helguson fired over from just inside the area.
Good passing from Watford then earned them a corner which almost led to the opener. Cowie's delivery was flicked on by Taylor and Helguson's volley bounced around the six yard box before Cowie crossed again.
This time Eustace headed the ball back across goal and Graham's header was saved by Murphy.
Watford were completely dominant and, after Helguson had a header hit the top of the bar, the visitors had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Graham was pulled over in the box
The Hornets grip on the game loosened slightly in the final ten minutes of the half and Scunthorpe unbelievably grabbed a goal with three minutes of the half left.
O'Connor picked out the run of Hooper between DeMerit and Mariappa and the striker did well to lift the ball past Loach to make it 1-0.
Watford did not deserve to go into the break a goal behind but they almost found themselves two down soon after the restart when Scunthorpe broke with pace and Woolford had a powerful drive just tipped on to the bar by Loach.
DeMerit glanced a header over from a Cleverley corner but it was the home side who were on top at the beginning of the second half.
Hayes was allowed time to fire over from distance and then Taylor had to block a goal-bound Woolford shot.
But Watford grabbed the goal their first-half display deserved on 64 minutes when Scunthorpe failed to clear their lines and Helguson prodded the ball to Graham in the six yard box and he smashed the ball home.
However, the home side should have regained the lead moments later when three United players were in the six yard box with the ball bouncing around, but Woolford's back heel was tame and easily saved by Loach.
Watford had another penalty appeal turned down when Graham was stopped as he ran towards goal and Loach needed to be at his best to deny Hooper one-on-one, palming his shot wide of the near post.
Lansbury then failed to test the keeper with a 20-yard free kick but the drama really began in the final ten minutes.
Referee David Webb wasted no time in pulling out a red card for Cleverley on 82 minutes after a rash challenge on O'Connor.
But a melee ensued immediately after involving at least 12 players as it seemed Cleverley was punched in the face while on the floor. However, Cliff Byrne only received a yellow card.
So the Hornets faced an uphill battle to win but it seemed Eustace had grabbed the winner from a Jon Harley corner in the 91st minute with a header into the bottom corner.
But just when it seemed the drama was over, in the fourth minute of added time, a powerful shot from eight yards out was adjudged to have hit the arm of DeMerit and Hooper slotted home the penalty.
Scunthorpe United: Murphy; Byrne, Mirfin, Raynes, Williams; Sparrow, O'Connor (Forte 89), McCann (Togwell 70), Woolford (Tompson 70); Hayes, Hooper.
Substitutes: Lillis, Milne, McDermott, J. Wright, Forte.
Watford: Loach; Mariappa, Taylor, DeMerit, Doyley; Cowie, Eustace, Lansbury, Cleverley; Graham, Helguson (Harley 83).
Substitutes: Lee, McGinn, Jenkins, Hoskins, Henderson, Hodson.
Referee: David Webb.
Attendance: 5,411.
Sending off: Cleverley (82).
Bookings: Eustace (47), Sparrow (52), Hooper (76), Williams (80), Byrne (83), DeMerit (94), Loach (95).
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