Sport: Local and national sport in and around Watford - Watford Observer

Watford vs Scunthorpe

• Kick off: 3:00pm Sat 21 Nov 09
• Referee: Chris Sarginson
• Venue: Vicarage Road

Final score:

Watford 3 - 0 Scunthorpe United

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90:00: I'll offer this thought again to close with. On Christmas Day 2008 Watford had 26 points from 24 games - they now have 27 points from 17 games. Thanks for joining us and see you next Saturday at Selhurst Park.

90:00: Final whistle All over and another job very well done by the Hornets.

90:00: Another chance goes begging for the Hornets. Hodson lifts the ball forward to leave Ellington one-on-one with Mirfin, and the Watford substitute steps inside his man to open up the shooting opportunity on his left foot, only to slice it wide.

90:00: Four minutes of stoppage time to be played.

85:00: Substitution Nice ovation for Graham as he makes way for young Michael Bryan.

83:00: That should have been four. Watford launch a blistering counter-attack as some trickery from Cowie on halfway gives him a clear run into the area but, with an easy pass to find Graham, the Scot fluffs his pass. However, the ball breaks nicely for Ellington, but his shot is deflected over.

81:00: A moment of controversy. Ellington's fine reverse pass puts leaves Graham one-on-one with Mirfin, but the Hornets striker comes off worse as the Iron centre half wins the ball and breaks downfield before he is fouled.

76:00: Yellow card Lansbury is cautioned for a lunging challenge. But only after Ellington's first touch, a stooping header, causes chaos between Lillis and a defender but Graham is just unable to get a touch on the ball before it narrowly goes the wrong side of the post.

74:00: Substitution That's H's last contribution as it's time for Watford's two frequent appearance makers from the bench again - Helguson makes way for Nathan Ellington and Jon Harley comes on Cleverley. Both departees receive a rousing ovation.

71:00: Helguson wants that hat-trick. He tries an ambitious left-footed half-volley from the same side of the area.

69:00: Yellow card Wright lucky not to see red for a horrible looking challenge on Eustace. The Watford midfielder is able to continue after treatment.

67:00: Woolford fires wide of Loach's near post after a long throw from the left is not cleared.

64:00: Cracking save by Loach at the other end, diving full length to his left to push away O'Connor's left-footed piledriver from 25 yards.

63:00: So, so nearly Helguson's hat-trick. Hodson plays a superb ball to the left side of the six-yard box where the Iceman guides the ball back across goal with his left foot, but the diving Lillis pushes it away.

61:00: Cathcart plays a long free kick to the right side of the area where Helguson gets up well, but is unable to direct his header back across goal.

60:00: Thanks for your thoughts again, swedish_hornet

57:00: Today's attendance is 13,241, with 368 visiting followers.

55:00: Cleverley plays a quick free kick from the left back to Cowie outside the area, but his right-footed curling effort is comfortably claimed by Lillis near his feet.

54:00: It's now lashing down at the Vic but we don't mind when the scoreline is like this!

51:00: That's Graham's first goal in eight and he moves back ahead of Cleverley at the top of the scoring charts with seven.

49:00: Lansbury capitalises on an atrocious mix up between N'Gala and a team-mate and squares the ball to the edge of the area where Graham side-foots a right-footed effort inside Lillis' near post to end his goal drought.

49:00: Goal! And that everyone should be game, set and match!

46:00: Substitution We're underway again and Nigel Adkins has wasted no time changing things, bringing on Bondz N'Gala and Michael O'Connor for Rob Jones and Matt Sparrow respectively at the start of the second half.

45:00: swedish_hornet - Watford are in control but there have been moments and half chances where Scunny could have let themselves back into the game so I wouldn't say the result was beyond doubt. Another goal would be nice

45:00: The four official indicating two minutes of added time coincides with Doyley firing narrowly wide of the near post from ten yards. His search for a first professional goal continues

45:00: Hooper puts another ball across the goal mouth but no one was able to get on the end of it

44:00: AN inswinging free kick by Cleverley is headed wide by Helguson

41:00: A defensive lapse from Hodson at a Hooper cross allowed Hayes to pull the ball back to Togwell but his shot was saved by a combination of Lansbury, Cathcart and Loach

37:00: Inswinging cross is glanced narrowly wide of the Watford post and the ref awarded a corner. Loach was fouled though and the chance amounted to nothing

34:00: Watford win a free kick on the edge of the area but Cowie lofted his effort comfortably over the bar

33:00: Good play from the visitors allowed Wright space eight yards out but the whistle went for offside

30:00: Cowie gave the ball away in his own half and Hayes showed quick feet to beat Hodson and Mariappa but his shot was saved low down by Loach

29:00: Watford are really moving the ball around well. This time Lansbury created a yard of space 20 yards out and his shot was deflected just over the bar

27:00: Eustace picks out Helguson at the far post but the striker was unable to generate enough power on his shot as he slid to reach the ball and it was easily saved

26:00: Yellow card Scunny captain Jones is booked for a late foul on Helguson

24:00: Watford are searching for more goals. Mariappa had a shot cleared off the line and then Eustace seemingly kicked the ball against the hand of Friend but the ref once again waved away the appeals

22:00: More neat play after a throw in saw Graham deliver an inviting cross from the right and Helguson thundered a header straight down the middle of the goal and past Lillis

22:00: Goal! 2-0 Watford and it is Helguson again

19:00: Goal! Goal to Watford. Cleverley's inswinging cross picks out Helguson between two defenders and the Iceland international scored with another header. His fourth goal in four appearances since re-joining on loan

18:00: Some excellent build up play from Watford resulted in Graham seemingly being climbed on by Friend but the ref was once again reluctant to award the penalty. The visitors then went up the other end and Loach had to make a smart save to deny Hayes

16:00: Scunny won a free kick 30 yards out and Wright's inswinging delivery was allowed to bounce in the box and it went out for a goal kick

14:00: The game had turned into a game where both sides were just launching long balls for a few minutes but then a dangerous cross from Cowie was just plucked out of the air by Lillis before it reached Graham

8:00: Scunny won a corner but eventually Watford were able to clear

7:00: There may have been a foul on Mariappa on the halfway line but the ref didn't give it and the two Scunthorpe front men worked well before Hayes shot wide

3:00: Watford went close again moments later when the ball broke to Lansbury outside the box and the Arsenal youngster's powerful low drive was deflected narrowly wide

1:00: Watford almost off to a flier inside the opening minute. Heidar Helguson flicks the ball on to Danny Graham and he drills right-footed past Lillis, but the goal is ruled out for offside.

0:00: Watford have named an unchanged side for the game. After the Hornets’ international contingent all returned unscathed from their respective commitments, it is no surprise that Malky Mackay has chosen to leave well alone following the impressive 2-0 victory over Preston North End. There is one change on the bench though, with keeper Richard Lee fit to return after missing the last five games with a knee problem. One additional incentive going into the game for the home side though, is that if they do win for a third successive time at Vicarage Road they will overtake the points tally they had on Christmas Day last year having played seven fewer matches. Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins was always going to have to make one change from the side that was thumped 4-1 at Blackpool last time out, with keeper Joe Murphy suspended. Josh Lillis comes in between the posts, but the Iron boss has also decided to make one change in midfield, with Martyn Woolford coming in for Grant McCann, while Gary Hooper, who was ill for the Blackpool game, returns in place of Michael O’Connor to be reunited with Paul Hayes up front. Watford: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Cathcart, Doyley; Cowie, Lansbury, Eustace, Cleverley; Graham, Helguson. Substitutes: Severin, Harley, Lee, Bennett, Henderson, Ellington, Bryan. Scunthorpe United: Lillis; Byrne, Jones, Mirfin, Friend; Wright, Togwell, Sparrow, Woolford; Hooper, Hayes. Substitutes: Williams, McCann, Thompson, Forte, O’Connor, Slocombe, N’Gala.

0:00: Good afternoon and welcome to Vicarage Road as Watford get back to business on the pitch after the international break with a match against Scunthorpe United.